Michelle Mulherin (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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1021. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government when interested parties will be in a position to make applications for funding under the new LEADER programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41462/14]

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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The draft operational programme for the Rural Development Programme 2014-2020, which includes LEADER, was submitted to the European Commission in July 2014. The approval of the Programme involves an iterative process between Ireland and the European Commission and it is hoped that the Programme will receive final approval before the end of 2014. In anticipation of Commission approval, my Department is progressing plans to undertake a comprehensive capacity building and selection process in order to ensure that the most robust, efficient and effective Local Development Strategies are selected for implementation. In addition, my Department is developing operational procedures and systems in order to ensure full compliance with EU and National rules and regulations. Notwithstanding the level of work to be done in advance of the programme becoming operational I expect that the programme will be in a position to start accepting applications by mid 2015.