Brendan Griffin (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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548. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government when community groups will be able to apply for the new Leader programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22731/14]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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Preparations for Ireland’s Rural Development Programme 2014-2020 (RDP) have begun and while these preparations are primarily the responsibility of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM), my Department will be responsible for the LEADER elements of the Programme. It is envisaged that Ireland will submit a draft Programme to the European Commission for approval by the end of June.

My Department intends to begin the process of selecting Local Development Strategies for implementation in the second half of 2014. It is envisaged that that process will take at least six months and possibly up to a year to complete. Following selection of the Local Development Strategies, it is intended that the new Programme will commence in 2015.

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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In line with the ‘bottom-up’ approach to rural development, 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 relevant LAG in respect of the project referred to 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 the Programme’s Operating Rules and EU regulations. I understand that the promoter in this case has been contacted regarding the provision of some additional information which is required in order to enable the evaluation of the application for funding to progress. The project assessment process will recommence once the required information is provided.