Brendan Griffin (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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210. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he will explain the methodology applied to establish the level of Leader funding to be made available to local development companies in counties under the 2014 to 2020 regional development programme; the reason for the very high levels of funding reduction, by percentage, for counties on the western seaboard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19011/15]

Ann Phelan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Labour)
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In determining the county allocations for the LEADER elements of the Rural Development Programme 2014-2020 three objective criteria were used, namely, minimum allocation, population density and a Resource Allocation Model (RAM). Each sub-regional area was given a minimum allocation of €3 million to ensure that each county received a viable allocation in line with European Commission guidelines. Cork was allocated €6 million as a minimum in order to ensure a viable allocation to each of the three administrative districts within the county. The fact that the population in Cork, outside the city, is almost twice that of any other county and more than three times some counties, was also taken into consideration. Nationally, these minimum allocations total €81 million. A measure of population density (county population divided by km²) was used to distribute one half of the remaining fund (€69.5m). An ‘average amount’ based on 26 counties was calculated. Each county’s population density was then compared to the average population density for the country. For those counties where the density was above or below average the average amount was adjusted upwards (below average) or downwards (above average) based on the percentage deviation from the average to determine an allocation to each county.

The second half of the remaining fund (€69.5 million) was allocated to each county using a Resource Allocation Model (RAM). The model was developed by Trutz Haase using information from the 2011 census and the Trutz Haase deprivation index as a measure of deprivation. The underlying variables of the model include consideration of demographic decline, social class deprivation and labour market deprivation. The model also used CSO area classification to measure the urban-rural spectrum. These calculations were weighted towards rural areas and considered areas with low and medium deprivation.

The final allocations for each county determined using the methodology outlined above are set out in Table 1 below.

Table 1: LEADER Allocations 2014-2020

Using this methodology, which I am satisfied is fair and consistent, each county was allocated a proportionate share of the funding available through the LEADER elements of the RDP. 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. This funding, 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 available funding will be maximised to support the sustainable development of our rural communities.