Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if the will list the number of LEADER programmes both at group level and national level; the cost involved in operating each programme; the number of staff involved in administering each programme; the total aggregated spend on salaries; the total number of staff earning more than €80,000 per annum broken down by each programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13410/13]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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There is one single Rural Development Programme (RDP) at a national level for the period 2007 – 2013 . My Department is the responsible Department for the delivery of the Axes 3 and 4 elements (LEADER) and , in line with the ‘bottom-up’ approach to rural development, there are 35 Local Action Groups (LAGs) contracted by my Department to deliver the LEADER elements throughout the eligible rural areas of the country.

The 35 LAGs are the principal decision-makers in relation to the allocation of project funding and such decisions are made in the context of the local development strategy of the individual groups in line with Departmental operating rules and EU regulations. There is a total fund of €314m available for allocation to qualifying projects up to the end of 2013.

Under the regulatory framework of the RDP a maximum of 20% of the fund can be spent to support the administration and running costs of the LAGs in implementing the RDP measures over the life of the programme. In addition funding is also available to the LAGs to carry out animation activities which can also involve the payment of staff salaries and other ancillary costs.

The nature of the RDP requires more intensive expenditure in the early part of the programming period on the running cost and animation elements of the programme. This is primarily due to the intensive efforts that are required by LAGs in order to support the capacity building and development of communities to avail of project funding. This type of support tends to decrease significantly as the programme matures.

Again in line with the ‘bottom-up’ approach my Department has no remit in relation to LAG staff salaries or numbers. It is a matter for the Board of each LAG, based on its Local Development Strategy, to deliver the Programme within the limits allowed.

The table sets out the amounts claimed by each LAG in relation to administration and animation funding up to 31 December 2012 and includes all salary and overhead costs that are relevant to the RDP.