Martin Ferris (Kerry North, Sinn Fein)
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Question 1192: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if an application for Leader funding has been made by a group (details supplied) in County Kerry; and when a decision will be made on the application. [31207/08]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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In accordance with the LEADER bottom-up approach to rural development, applications for funding under Axes 3 & 4 (LEADER elements) of the Rural Development Programme 2007-2013 are not processed by my Department, but rather by the individual Local Action Groups contracted to deliver the LEADER elements of the Programme on the Department's behalf. Each Local Action Group is the decision-making authority in relation to approving and funding actions falling within its business plan, though funding may only be awarded in accordance with EU regulatory requirements and within detailed operating rules governing the implementation of the Programme.

The Deputy may be aware that the process for selecting Local Action Groups to deliver the LEADER elements of the Rural Development Programme 2007-2013 is now at an advanced stage and I expect to announce the award of contracts and the allocation of funding in October. In this context, I anticipate that the Programme will be open to applications to the Local Action Groups for funding shortly thereafter.