Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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205. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he will bring the Leader programme into line with the rest of the 2014 to 2020 rural development scheme programme, by increasing the Leader co-financing rate from 37% to 46% (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18060/15]

Ann Phelan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Labour)
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The Leader element of the Rural Development Programme 2014 – 2020 , will provide €250 million in financial resources to rural communities over the next 5-6 years.

While the allocation for the Leader element of the 2014-2020 programme is less than the value of the LEADER element of 2007–2013 programme, I am confident that within the confines of the fiscal environment we have experienced in the recent past, the Government has allocated the maximum amount possible to support the Leader elements of the 2014-2020 programme and in this context it is not proposed to increase the co-financing rate at this time.

The €250 million funding available under the 2014-2020 programme, coupled with the Government's drive to increase coordination at a local level and the commitment to the delivery of the recommendations in the Report of the Commission on the Economic Development of Rural Areas (CEDRA), will ensure that the impact of the funding will be maximised to support the sustainable development of our rural communities.