Michelle Mulherin (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he will put in place interim arrangements for the acceptance and processing of new applications for LEADER funding for the North East Mayo area pending the completion of the investigation of possible governance issues in Mayo North East Leader Partnership which has been unable to operate the LEADER programme for over the past year thus denying rural development funds to the area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5479/13]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government when permission will be granted to the North/East Mayo integrated company to approve LEADER projects again; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5592/13]

Michelle Mulherin (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he will put in place interim arrangements for the acceptance and processing of new applications for LEADER funding for the North East Mayo area pending the completion of the investigation of possible governance issues in Mayo North East Leader Partnership which has been unable to operate the LEADER programme for over the past year thus denying rural development funds to the area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5078/13]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Question Nos. 140, 172 and 157 together.

Mayo North East Leader Partnership is the Local Action Group contracted by my Department to deliver both the R ural Development Programme and the Local Communi ty Development Programme to the North Mayo area. On foot of correspondence received in 2011 regarding a possible governance issue at Mayo North East LEADER Partnership Company, a comprehensive investigation into the issues outlined was instigated. This proved to be a very complex investigation and, on foot of its initial findings and in the context of the Department’s responsibility to ensure that RDP funding is delivered in an efficient and effective way, a decision was made to suspend project approvals by the Partnership on 7 March 2012. However, the issuing of payments to eligible approved applications is progressing as normal.

The Final Report has been provided to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine Managing Authority for the RDP. The Managing Authority has subsequently reported the findings to the European Commission and the external accreditation auditors (Deloitte). The findings of the investigation have also been reported to both the Garda Bureau of Fraud Investigation and the Standards in Public Office Commission and consideration of these findings will be subject to the relevant processes in these bodies. The Report has been considered in my own Department and an Action Plan has been agreed with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. My Department has also agreed a series of actions to be taken by Mayo North East LEADER Partnership Company. In the coming period, if and when these actions are completed to the satisfaction of my Department, and adherence to all other regulatory and governance requirements is assured , the suspension of project approvals in Mayo North East Leader Partnerships will be reviewed. It is critical that the funds delivered through the LEADER elements of the RDP are managed in an efficient and effective way.

While we must ensure correct and proper management and implementation of the LEADER elements of the RDP from both a regulatory and value for money perspective, my Department’s objective is to conclude the processes associated with this investigation with a view to reinstating access to RDP funds to the citizens of Mayo North East, while ensuring regulatory compliance, value for money and maximum impact for the people of North Mayo.