Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

250. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if groups contributing more than 50% of the cost of a Leader project will have to advertise tenders on e-tenders or if they will be allowed to proceed on the basis of receiving five tenders for a project, in view of the extra cost e-tendering puts on project promoters under the Leader programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10826/15]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

251. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if under the new Leader programme community groups will receive a grant for preliminary costs such as project design fees, feasibility studies, business plans and preparation of documentation for e-tendering even if a project does not proceed, in view of the very excessive costs involved in these processes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10827/15]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

252. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the maximum grant under the new Leader programme for non-commercial projects; his plans to retain the €500,000 limit grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10828/15]

Ann Phelan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 250 to 252, inclusive, together.

Public Procurement Guidelines require that contracts awarded by any private entity, which are subsidised 50% or more by a public body, must be subject to public procurement and where the value exceeds certain thresholds,must be used. Projects subsidised less than 50% are not subject to full public procurement; however, the European Regulations governing the Leader elements of the Rural Development Programme require an assessment of the reasonableness of costs and accordingly some level of public procurement will be required, depending on the value of the contract.

My Department is currently developing the management systems and operating rules that will be required to ensure the most effective implementation of the 2014-2020 Programme. These will include determining eligible costs, rates of aid and maximum grant levels such as those described by the Deputy. Full details will be available before Local Development Strategies become operational in Autumn 2015.