Michelle Mulherin (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 366: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, following the closure of Gaeltacht partnership company, Meitheal Forbatha na Gaeltachta, when the remaining sum of approximately €19,000 of an approved grant for the purchase of a boat (details supplied) will be paid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13831/12]

Michelle Mulherin (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 367: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, following the closure of a company (details supplied) when all outstanding approved grants being processed by that organisation will be paid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13835/12]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 366 and 367 together.

Meitheal Forbartha na Gaeltachta (MFG), the group contracted by my Department to deliver Axes 3 & 4 (LEADER) of the Rural Development Programme (RDP) in Gaeltacht Areas, went into liquidation on 7 September 2011. Progress is ongoing in the context of the legal "winding up" process and all relevant RDP (LEADER) project files have been released by the liquidator and are now with my Department.

Project promoters with fully completed contracts were contacted in the week ending 2 March 2012 with a view to verifying project information in order to facilitate payment of outstanding amounts. Once this process is complete the Local Development Companies contiguous to Gaeltacht areas will form part of an interim system of payment in the short term. The project promoter referred to in question (13831) was one such promoter.

In the context of the delivery of Axes 3 & 4 (LEADER) of the Rural Development Programme in Gaeltacht areas in the longer term my Department has commenced a process requesting expressions of interest from established Local Development Companies to deliver the LEADER elements of the RDP in MFG areas for the remainder of the Programming period.

The request was sent to all Local Development Companies on 6 March 2012 with a closing date for receipt of expressions of interest of 27 March 2012.