Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government when a community organisation (details supplied) in County Mayo, can expect their LEADER grant application to be processed; the reason for the delay in the processing this application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44586/12]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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My Department is responsible for ensuring that funding provided through the LEADER elements of the Rural Development Programme (RDP) is delivered in an efficient and effective way. Systems within the Department involve the checking of projects to ensure that the claimed expenditure is verifiably correct. The claim for reimbursement for the project detailed in the question was selected for inspection by the Inspection Services Division (ISD) of my Department .  There were several findings arising from the inspection and it has taken some time to address these findings. However, I can confirm that all findings have now be en addressed and payment will issue very shortly.

Michelle Mulherin (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the position regarding a grant application to Mayo North East LEADER Partnership Company Teoranta by an organisation (details supplied) in County Mayo; and when will a payment be made. [44594/12]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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Mayo North East Leader Partnership (MNELP) is the Local Action Group contracted by my Department to deliver both the Rural Development Programme (RDP) and the Local Community Development Programme (LCDP) to the North Mayo area.

On foot of correspondence I received in 2011 regarding a possible governance issue at Mayo North East LEADER Partnership Company, I directed my Department to investigate the matter. This investigation is complex and ongoing and pending its completion the authority for MNELP to approve projects under the LEADER element of the Rural Development Programme was suspended in early March 2012. MNELP, accordingly, is not in a position to make a final decision regarding the application in question while the suspension is in place. A decision on the application will be made as soon as possible following completion of the investigation.

Michelle Mulherin (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the position regarding a grant application to Mayo North East LEADER Partnership Company Teoranta by an organisation (details supplied) in County Mayo; and when will a payment be made. [44595/12]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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My Department is responsible for ensuring that funding provided through the LEADER elements of the Rural Development Programme (RDP) is delivered in an efficient and effective way. Systems within the Department involve the checking of projects to ensure that the claimed expenditure is verifiably correct. The claim for reimbursement for the project detailed in the question was selected for inspection by the Inspection Services Division (ISD) of my Department.  There were several findings arising from the inspection and as a result of these findings the expenditure was deemed ineligible.

Foxford Development Association subsequently requested a review of this decision in line with the processes currently in place in the Department. This review was conducted in September 2012 and on 10 October 2012 ISD issued a findings letter to Foxford Development Association upholding the original decision and restating its belief that the expenditure included in the claim for payment was ineligible under the rules of the Rural Development Programme.

My Department has a fully operational appeals mechanism and Foxford Development Association have been notified that it is open to them to appeal the review decision within one month of the date of the review notification.