Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick, Fine Gael)
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524. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if financial assistance is available from his Department in respect of a community initiative (details supplied) in County Wicklow. [10128/15]

Ann Phelan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Labour)
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The LEADER elements of the 2007-2013 Rural Development Programme are now closed and not taking any further applications for funding.

The LEADER elements of the Rural Development Programme 2014-2020 will provide a total of €250 million to support the development of sustainable rural communities. LEADER is delivered through the medium of Local Development Strategies (LDS) by Local Action Groups and I hope to be in a position to launch the selection process for LDSs very shortly, with a view to having strategies operational towards the end of 2015.

It should be noted that a project such as that described by the D eputy in the details supplied may be eligible in princip le for funding under the LEADER elements of the RDP. However, as LEADER projects are supported through the medium of LDSs, such a project would need to be identified as a priority within that strategy. All final decisions on the allocation of funding at a local level rest with the Local Action Groups .