Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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219. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the total funding allocated to the Cavan/Monaghan Leader programme for 2009-14; the amount that this programme was subsequently reduced by; the total funding committed to date under that programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7385/15]

Ann Phelan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Labour)
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The original value of the LEADER element of the Rural Development Programme 2007- 2013 was €427 million. The Programme commenced in counties Cavan and Monaghan in May 2009 and at that time Cavan Monaghan LEADER, the Local Action Group contracted by my Department to deliver the Programme in these counties, was allocated €12,035,118.

In late 2011 the European Commission offered Member States that were part of the Financial Stabilisation Mechanism an opportunity to avail of an increased co-financing rate from 55% up to 85%. The increased rate was to apply to 2012 and 2013 expenditure only. It reduced the Programme value by 13% to approximately €370 million and was based on the co-financing rate returning to 55% for 2014 and 2015.

In 2013 the Local Action Group's allocations were revised in line with the €370 million estimate, taking account of project approvals and the spend position at the time. Cavan Monaghan LEADER received a final revised allocation of €10,235,403.

The project commitment level under the Programme is €285 million with €261 million of this already paid. In addition, €12 million has been paid in animation expenses and €63 million has been paid in respect of administration to date. The position in relation to Cavan Monaghan currently is that €7.7 million has been spent on projects and €2.3 million on administration/animation expenses. €234,000 remains to be paid in respect of project commitments.