Michael McCarthy (Cork South West, Labour)
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Question 330: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if there are any financial supports available from him to assist in the setting-up of a shared kitchen scheme whereby artisan food producers would have the use of a shared kitchen to assist in producing food; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25722/11]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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The Rural Development Programme 2007-2013 is divided into 4 Axes. Axis 1 deals with competitiveness of the agricultural sector, Axis 2 aims to improve the countryside and environment and the objectives of Axis 3 are to support the diversification of the rural economy and improve the quality of life in rural areas. Axis 4 or the LEADER Axis provides support for the use of a "bottom up" approach to development which ensures that local people are involved in the decision making thereby facilitating sustainable development in a more inclusive way. In Ireland the LEADER approach is used to implement Axis 3 measures.

Funding of €427m is available under Axis 3&4 of the RDP for allocation to qualifying projects up to the end of 2013. The programme provides support to start up enterprises in rural areas and in this context support for shared kitchen facilities could be provided under the Axis 3 measure for Business Creation and Development.

However, the output of such facilities must be compliant with the EU regulations on support for the processing of agricultural products. Basic Agricultural products are listed in Annex 1 to the EC Treaty and are commonly called Annex 1 products. Under the main rural development regulation 1698/2005 support/grant aid for adding value to Annex 1 products is facilitated under Axis 1 of the programme. Therefore any outputs of such shared facilities supported under Axis 3 of the RDP would be required to be non-Annex 1 products.