Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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975. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the arrangements he has put in place to provide interim funding to Leader local action groups including Cavan-Monaghan Leader, whose Leader administration funding (details supplied) will be exhausted by 31 December 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40923/14]

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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As detailed in the EU regulatory framework, a maximum of 20% of the LEADER element of the Rural Development Programme 2007-2013 can be spent on administration by the Local Action Group contracted to deliver the Programme in their area. It should be noted that the funding amount available did change during the programme period. All Local Action Groups were fully informed of the changes and were expected to amend their operating costs accordingly in order to ensure sufficient budgetary resources to support the operation of the RDP to completion. Cavan Monaghan LEADER has been paid almost €2 million in administration funding since mid-2009.

There is no facility within the EU regulatory framework to provide interim funding and I have no plans to provide interim administration funding for any company between the closure of the current 2007-2013 Programme and the commencement of the 2014-2020 Programme.