Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 30: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the number of Leader companies expected to be supported in the roll out of the new rural development programme; the number of people who will be employed by these companies; the way this differs from the previous programmes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25002/08]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy will be aware that I launched the call for proposals for Local Action Groups, to deliver the LEADER elements of the Rural Development Programme on 20th May. The selection of these Local Action Groups is a competitive open process, which requires the business plans to be submitted by 4th July 2008. Until such time as these proposals have been evaluated, I am not in a position to say how many groups will emerge from the process. In line with both the 'bottom-up' approach of the LEADER method of rural development and with practice in previous funding rounds, each of the groups contracted to implement the programme employs its own staff and my Department does not have an input in this regard.