Charlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the number of LEADER projects awaiting his approval; the length of time each project is being assessed by his Department; the names of the sponsors of the projects and the integrated companies that approved them; when a decision will be taken on these projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5591/13]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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Funding of €314m is available under the Rural Development Programme (RDP) 2007-2013 for allocation to qualifying projects up to the end of 2013. There are 35 Local Action Groups (LAGs) contracted, on my Department’s behalf, to deliver the RDP throughout the country and these groups are the principal decision-makers in relation to the allocation of project funding. Such decisions are made in the context of the local development strategy of the individual groups and in line with Departmental operating rules and EU regulations.

Projects that request funding of €150,000 or more are required to seek final approval from my Department. The assessment of these higher value projects usually involves detailed consultations between my Department and the relevant local development company. It frequently necessitates the provision of further documentation or clarifications. It may also, in some instances, result in modifications to the project proposed to ensure best value for money and compliance with all the necessary regulations, both national and European, governing the activities funded under the programme. My Department currently has 45 projects at various stages of assessment and the Local Development Companies that have projects currently undergoing assessment are listed in the following table.

The policy in my Department is to work with the Local Development Companies to ensure that the projects submitted are fully compliant and can be approved rather than to refuse approval for funding; it can therefore take some time to come to a final conclusion. My Department will continue to work with the relevant LAGs to make a full assessment of the eligibility of these projects and will inform the LAGs once all queries have been addressed satisfactorily.