Seymour Crawford (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Question 444: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the amount of funding being made available to each of the LEADER groups to encourage investment and jobs; the percentage of the funds which will be needed for administration; when applications will be made available; the way they will be advertised; his views on whether this is one of the few areas that can provide funding to rural areas through significant aid from the EU; if he will ensure that as much as possible of the approved funding is provided in the earlier stage of the scheme to avoid panic and possible poor value being received from the fund in a rush to utilise it before the closing date. [28208/09]

Conor Lenihan (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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I assume the Deputy is referring to the Community Support Scheme (CSS) operated by the LEADER groups in areas where commercial salmon fishing has been a well established activity.

The following table sets out the amount of funding available to each of the LEADER companies through the CSS. Each LEADER company received an administration grant equivalent to 15% of the funds made available to it subject to a maximum of €70,000 per company. The CSS is an Exchequer funded scheme.

The focus of the scheme is primarily on those communities where commercial salmon fishing has been a well-established activity and where its withdrawal demonstrably impacts on the economic and social fabric of the community. The scheme is being administered through 15 identified LEADER companies and Comhdháil Oileáin na hÉireann (in respect of island communities) and Meitheal Forbartha na Gaeltachta Teoranta (in respect of the Gaeltacht areas) under the supervision of the Department in conjunction with the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs.

The scheme was advertised in 2008 and the closing date for receipt of applications under the scheme was extended to the 31 March 2009 to facilitate maximum participation in the scheme. All funding in relation to the scheme must be drawn down by the LEADER companies by November 2009.