Bobby Aylward (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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Question 402: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if he will lift the capping of the administration and animation budget available to a partnership (details supplied) in County Kilkenny which is already reduced by 21.5% in 2010; if he will arrange for payment to be made early in the programme to ensure that staff are retained and its 2010 project commitments are met; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6643/10]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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My Department is responsible for the delivery of Axes 3 & 4 of the Rural Development Programme 2007-2013 (RDP) for which overall funding of the order of €425m is available. The €40m allocation for 2010 represents an increase of approximately 120% on expenditure in 2009. In order to maximise the impact of the funding available to communities on the ground, the administration/animation budget has been capped at €12m this year. In overall terms, this is roughly 10.5% less than that available for 2009. As a result, all groups will see a percentage decrease in the level of such funding available to them this year and, while I accept that this may present a challenge to some groups, my Department will continue to keep the matter under review.

The Deputy will appreciate that it is imperative, particularly in the current economic climate, that the RDP maximises the funding available for projects on the ground that will improve the quality of life in rural areas and will ensure the diversification of the rural economy. In this regard, my Department is working very closely with individual Local Action Groups to ensure the efficient and effective delivery of the Programme. I am confident that with prudent financial management, groups can continue to deliver an efficient and effective service to their local communities within the administration/animation funding that has been made available to them.

The group to which the Deputy refers has been allocated administration/animation funding of €345,712 for 2010 and was notified of this funding on 1st February last. Taking account of unspent 2009 administration/animation funds retained by the group, the overall 2010 allocation amounts to approximately €366k, which represents a decrease of a little over 8%. Payments of administration/animation funding commenced to all groups in early January and will continue on a regular basis throughout the year. Payments for projects are continuing on an ongoing basis as claims are submitted and all project commitments properly made for 2010 will be met.