Michelle Mulherin (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the position regarding an application for funding to Mayo North East LEADER (details supplied) in County Mayo and when a decision will issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13966/13]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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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 my Department’s responsibility to ensure that Rural Development Programme (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 of the investigation has been provided to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine as 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 undertaken by Mayo North East LEADER Partnership Company (MNELP).

The project referred to in the question, by Lahardane Community Council Ltd, involves a grant amount in excess of €150,000 and as such is required to undergo an approvals process within my Department. Approval of such projects is currently on hold in line with the process outlined above until the actions to be undertaken by MNELP are completed to my satisfaction.

In the coming period, if and when these actions are completed to the satisfaction of my Department, and if adherence to all other regulatory and governance requirements is assured, the suspension of project approvals by MNELP will be reviewed.