Written answers

Tuesday, 19 January 2010

Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs

Community Development

9:00 pm

Photo of Denis NaughtenDenis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 699: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the steps he is taking to address the red tape associated with the draw down of Leader programme funding from the integrated development companies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1208/10]

Photo of Éamon Ó CuívÉamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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Funding of the order of €425m is available over the lifetime of the Rural Development Programme (RDP) 2007 – 2013 and all expenditure under it is subject to EU rules and regulations.

In this context, a number of Local Action Groups (LAGs), formerly know as LEADER companies, have been contracted by my Department to deliver the Programme and they must do so in compliance with those EU regulations.

The RDP Operating Rules which govern the day-to-day operation of the Programme are, in turn, based on EU regulations and are subject to the same audit and verification requirements in Ireland as in every other Member State.

The Deputy will appreciate that my Department is charged with ensuring that there is no misappropriation of funds and that all expenditure under the RDP is in line with the regulations as set out by the European Commission. It is vital that adequate systems are in place to ensure that value for money is guaranteed for every euro spent under this Programme.

All the LAGs were fully aware of the regulatory environment that would operate when they submitted their applications to deliver the Programme in their areas of operation and they all agreed to abide by those in the contracts they signed with me in 2009.

When I met the representatives of the LAGs last Autumn I invited them to make a submission to me in relation to any difficulties they had in relation to the implementation of the Programme. This submission is still awaited.

I can assure the Deputy that my Department is working closely with each LAG in order to maximise the impact of the RDP in their own areas and I have full confidence in their ability to deliver.

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