Michelle Mulherin (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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694. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the position regarding an application to Mayo North East Leader Partnership Company Teoranta by an organisation (details supplied) in County Mayo. [46693/13]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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Following agreement with the European Commission, Ireland has adopted a definition of rural areas for the purpose of LEADER funding as all of the country other than the urban areas defined as hubs and gateways in the National Spatial Strategy. The use of this definition, rather than a population density calculation, ensured that LEADER funding would available to a greater proportion of Ireland’s rural areas than would otherwise have been the case.

For the purposes of implementing the LEADER elements of the Rural Development Programme (RDP) 2007-2013, all areas within the following are excluded:

-The City Council boundaries of Dublin, Cork, Galway, Waterford and Limerick

- The Borough Council boundaries of Kilkenny, Sligo and Wexford

- The Town Council boundaries of Athlone, Ballina, Castlebar, Cavan, Dundalk, Ennis, Killarney, Letterkenny, Mallow, Monaghan, Mullingar, Tralee, Tuam and Tullamore.

I understand from MNELP that an application was received from the promoter in question but as the location of the proposed project is inside the Town Council boundary of Ballina the application cannot be progressed.

Michelle Mulherin (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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695. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the position regarding a grant application to Mayo North East Leader Partnership Company Teoranta by an organisation (details supplied). [46694/13]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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In line with the ‘bottom-up’ approach to rural development under the LEADER elements of the Rural Development Programme 2007-2013, the LAGs 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 Programme’s Operating Rules and EU regulations. The LAG for the area referred to in the question is Mayo North East LEADER Partnership (MNELP).

EU Regulation requires that a percentage of claims are subject to inspection and in this case part of the project costs were deemed ineligible for funding. The promoter appealed the decision to the Department Appeal Panel, which subsequently upheld the original finding . Payment in respect of the eligible amount is expected to issue in the coming days.

Michelle Mulherin (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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696. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the position regarding a grant application to Mayo North East Leader Partnership Company Teoranta by an organisation (details supplied) in County Mayo. [46695/13]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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In line with the ‘bottom-up’ approach to rural development under the LEADER elements of the Rural Development Programme 2007-2013, there are 35 Local Action Groups (LAGs) contracted, on my Department’s behalf, to deliver the LEADER elements of the Rural Development Programme 2007-2013 (RDP) throughout the country. The LAG for the area referred to in the question is Mayo North East LEADER Partnership (MNELP). The LAGs 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 Programme’s Operating Rules and EU regulations.

I understand that MNELP received an application from the promoter in question and is currently reviewing the documentation in order to update current information. Once this review is complete the file will be sent to my Department for final review.

Michelle Mulherin (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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697. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the position regarding an application to Mayo North East Leader by an organisation (details supplied) in County Mayo; when a decision may be expected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46696/13]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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In line with the ‘bottom-up’ approach to rural development under the LEADER elements of the Rural Development Programme 2007-2013, there are 35 Local Action Groups (LAGs) contracted, on my Department’s behalf, to deliver the LEADER elements of the Rural Development Programme 2007-2013 (RDP) throughout the country. The LAG for the area referred to in the question is Mayo North East LEADER Partnership (MNELP). The LAGs 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 Programme’s Operating Rules and EU regulations.

I understand that MNELP has recently received updated information from the project promoter and expect to submit the project file to my Department for final review very shortly.