Michelle Mulherin (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he will expedite the sanction of the issue of contracts for the funding of a project (details supplied) in County Mayo under the LEADER programme which has been approved by Mayo North East Leader Partnership; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17810/13]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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Mayo North East Leader Partnership is the Local Action Group contracted by my Department to deliver both the Rural Development Programme and the Local Community 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 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. The project in question will be addressed in this context.