Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 78: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will give Leader clerical officers access to funding from Access (1) for the development of food projects in view of the fact that it has been ruled that food projects are not eligible for funding under Access (3) and (4); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7150/11]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The food projects funded by Leader under the Rural Development Programme play an important role in promoting food processing businesses in rural areas and in generating employment in these areas. This funding has recently been under discussion with the EU Commission. The Commission takes the view that this type of funding is more appropriate to Axis 1 of the Programme which aims to improve competitiveness and provides funding for processing of agricultural products. All EU funding available under Axis 1 is already committed to my Department's on farm investment schemes.

My Department is working closely with their colleagues in the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government to resolve this issue bearing in mind the funding constraints. Both Departments are also keeping in touch with the Commission on the issue.