Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he will commit to ensuring that the four Erris parishes in County Mayo not currently covered by the Leader programme will be included in the programme; if he will provide a time frame for the resolution of this situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1424/13]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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The Gaeltacht areas referred to in the Question were formerly serviced by Meitheal Forbartha na Gaeltachta (MFG) for the purposes of the distribution of Axes 3 & 4 (LEADER) of the Rural Development Programme (RDP). MFG went into liquidation on 7 September 201 1. Following a complex and difficult legal winding up process most of the Gaeltacht areas are now operational through Local Development Companies in geographically contiguous areas. Progress is still ongoing in the context of determining a delivery solution for RDP funding in the Erris Parishes.

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 and we must ensure that the solution determined for the Erris Gaeltacht area has the capacity to meet the standards required to ensure compliance with both National and EU regulations. My Department is working to determine a solution that will facilitate access to RDP funding for the four Erris parishes as soon as possible.