Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if it is intended to transfer allocations by his Department between the different headings under which the LEADER programme operates to ensure full spend of the LEADER rural development fund in view of the fact that some companies have allocated their full allocation already under certain headings and that there is very little demand under others; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57733/12]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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Such a facility is already in place under the LEADER elements of the Rural Development Programme and has been for some time. This was one of a number of amendments, aimed at assisting expenditure under the Programme, put to the European Commission and approved by them. The amendment to remove specific measure allocations and increase the flexibility for expenditure under the measures that are performing better has been very successful. One of the direct results of this change is a reallocation of €18 million into the Basic Services measure. This amendment, along with a number of other changes, including an increased rate of aid of 75% for those creating and developing enterprises, has resulted in substantially increased project activity which now stands at over €263 million.