Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 369: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the level of funding drawn down by his Department under the rural development programme to date in 2010; the level of funding outstanding; the national co-financing obligations of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25493/10]

Pat Carey (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Under the Rural Development Programme 2007-2013, my Department has received €7,406,282.44 in payments from the European Commission to date in 2010. This amount represents 55% of total eligible expenditure claimed, of which 45%, or €6,059,685.63, was provided by the Exchequer on a co-financing basis. There are no funding requests currently outstanding. The next request for payment is scheduled for submission to the European Commission in July 2010.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 370: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the level of funding that has been delivered, to date in 2010, to each partnership under the rural development programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25494/10]

Pat Carey (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

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 RDP allocation of €40m for 2010 represents an increase of approximately 120% on expenditure in 2009.

The Deputy will appreciate that it is imperative, particularly in the current economic climate, that the RDP maximises the funding available for the programme on the ground, in order to ensure the improvement of the quality of life in rural areas and 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 groups will continue to serve their local communities by ensuring that all available funding is spent so as to maximise the impact of the programme in their areas.

The table below details the funding delivered from my Department to date in 2010 to each Integrated Development Partnership under the RDP. The Deputy should note that, in addition to the expenditure outlined in the table, a further €40 million approximately is committed to ongoing projects. It is anticipated that a significant number of these projects will be completed and draw down their funding during 2010.