Michelle Mulherin (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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159. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the value of contracts that have been submitted for approval by Mayo North East Leader Partnership to him and which may be funded under LEADER element of the Rural Development Programme 2007 to 2013 as just announced by him; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20563/13]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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Following a thorough examination of project activity under the LEADER elements of the Rural Development Programme (RDP) I announced on 24 April 2013 the lifting of the embargo on project approvals.

The completion of this review has facilitated the issuing of RDP contracts for approximately €42 million worth of projects which have been approved by the Board of the Local Development Companies (LDCs) and have all the necessary requirements in place.  The LDCs contracted to deliver the LEADER elements of the RDP have been allowed two weeks to notify my Department as to whether all of the projects within this €42 million are ready to proceed.

Only projects over €150,000 are submitted to my Department for approval and currently my Department has three such projects from Mayo North East Leader Partnership. Of the recently announced €42 million worth of projects approved by the Boards of the LDCs, €571,112 relates to Mayo North East Leader Partnership. I have informed Mayo North East Leader Partnership of my decision in principle to allow a limited resumption of its activities under the Rural Development Programme once contracts and administrative procedures have been agreed with my Department and put in place. Under the new arrangements, MNELP will continue to be the deciding authority for the approval of projects and the Department will carry out the administrative checks required under the European Commission Regulations.