Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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568. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the status of a Leader funding application for a community project (details supplied) in County Mayo; the reason for the delay in processing the application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36880/14]

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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There are 35 Local Development Companies (LDCs) contracted, on my Department’s behalf, to deliver the LEADER elements of the Rural Development Programme 2007-2013 (RDP) throughout the country. In line with the ‘bottom-up’ approach to rural development the LDCs 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 only exception to this is the requirement to seek final approval from my Department in respect of projects that request funding of €150,000 or more. The assessment of these higher value projects usually involves detailed consultations between my Department and the relevant local development company.

The specific project referred to is currently with my Department for assessment and I expect a decision will issue shortly.