Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
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131. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government to whom an applicant who is not satisfied with the decision or the decision-making process of a Leader group or development company may appeal or make a complaint; where such persons can find the criteria for matching Leader funds of the Department that has overall responsibility for Leader funds; by whom are the guidelines used when deciding on the criteria for matching funds ultimately set, that is the criteria set at EU level, ministerial level or local level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39876/13]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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My Department is responsible for the LEADER elements of the Rural Development Programme 2007-2013 which is governed primarily through European Commission and Council regulations. The main regulations governing the delivery of the current programme are Council Regulation 1698/2005 on support for rural development by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development, Commission Regulation 1974/2006 laying down detailed rules for the application of Council Regulation 1698/2005 on support for ruraldevelopment by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development and Commission Regulation 1975/2006 laying down detailed rules for the implementation of Council Regulation (EC) No 1698/2005, later replaced by (EC) No 65/201, as regards the implementation of control procedures as well as cross-compliance in respect of rural development support measures. The Regulations stipulate that each Member State must set down detailed Programme rules and that the Programme must also comply with all relevant national legislation and standards. In this regard, my Department has detailed Programme Operating Rules available on and amending circulars. The criteria for the eligibility of the projects funded under the Programme are contained in the Rules and amending circulars. Under the Operating Rules, where an applicant is dissatisfied with the decision of a Local Development Company they may appeal the decision to the Regional Inspector in my Department's Inspection Services Section.