Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 339: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if a category (details supplied) is included in the criteria for the new funding for groups which was announced. [16703/09]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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Axes 3 & 4 of the Rural Development Programme Ireland 2007–13 provides a range of funding measures to support rural communities and the rural economy. These measures are being implemented in accordance with the LEADER bottom-up approach to rural development by Local Action Groups all over the country.

Direct support for tourism activities is provided through the Encouragement of Tourism Activities measure, with in excess of €45m available for such investment in rural areas during the Programming period. Funding is also available to members of farm households under the Diversification into Non-agricultural Activities for the provision of tourism facilities for such as walking, cycling, angling, pony trekking and for the development of niche tourism products such as arts and crafts, speciality food provision and open farms. Total funding of €16.66m is available under this measure.