Michael McCarthy (Cork South West, Labour)
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264. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if there is a grant available for the reconstruction of damaged outbuildings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21221/13]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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Axes 3 & 4 (LEADER) of the Rural Development Programme (RDP) 2007-2013 will continue to provide financial resources for allocation to qualifying projects up to the end of 2013. Two of the objectives of the RDP are to identify and provide appropriate amenity and leisure facilities to local communities not otherwise available to them and to support the renewal of rural villages and towns. Accordingly, it may be possible to obtain funding to reconstruct damaged outbuildings however this will depend on the proposed use of such buildings post reconstruction. Outside of any potential application of the reconstructed buildings in an enterprise context the subsequent use of such structures would have to be open to all members of the community in order to be eligible for RDP funding.

There are 35 Local Development Companies contracted, on my Department's behalf, to deliver Axes 3 & 4 (LEADER) of the Rural Development Programme (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. In order to determine the specific eligibility of any project under the LEADER elements of the RDP it is advisable to contact the Local Development Company in the area concerned. Contact details for all LDCs can be found on my Department's website at .