Michael Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 438: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when food projects will be allowed to be funded under the rural development plan 2007 - 2013. [33183/11]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The European Commission has advised this year that food projects being funded under Axis 3 of the rural development programme [RDP] are appropriate to Axis 1 and must be funded under that part of the programme. These projects are being funded through LEADER which falls within the remit of the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government. The Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine has responsibility for the overall RDP as the Managing Authority. A balance of funding the 3 Axes of the RDP must be maintained and the transfer of funding for food projects to Axis 1 was not readily possible due to this requirement. Additional national funding is required to activate these projects under Axis 1 and this issue is under active review.