Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein)
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914. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the reason a development (details supplied) in County Westmeath received more than €13,400 in Leader funding between 2008 and 2013; the reason an official has failed to reply to numerous registered letters from a public representative regarding same; the reason an unauthorised development could receive Leader funding between 2008 and 2013 when the property was the subject of an enforcement order in 2012. [11981/15]

Ann Phelan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Labour)
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Westmeath Community Development Ltd. is contracted to deliver the LEADER element of the Rural Development Programme 2007-2013 (RDP) in Westmeath and is the decision-maker in relation to the allocation of project funding. This is in line with the 'bottom up' approach to rural development. Any correspondence submitted to my Department in relation to this matter to date has been replied to.

The project referred to in the Question received LEADER funding of €13,387 towards the formulation of a strategic plan, which reviewed amongst other matters, environmental and planning considerations for the future development of the marina in question. This was purely a research project and the issue of planning permission did not arise.

The enforcement order referred to in the Question was issued by Westmeath County Council on 5 October 2013 which was several months after the completion of the feasibility study and payment of the grant to this project.