Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1017. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding the LEADER programme. [21379/15]

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

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 LEADER allocation for 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, 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. 

Indeed, I recently announced the launch of the Rural Economic Development Zones (REDZ) pilot scheme, one of the most important CEDRA recommendations. A total of €2 million is being made available under this scheme, which I envisage will fund up to 18 pilot projects on a regional and county basis. The pilot scheme is open to all local authorities in cooperation with their relevant REDZ communities. My Department has finalised the scheme criteria and I am encouraging all interested communities to engage with their local authorities with a view to submitting an application.

Regarding the allocation of funding under the Leader elements of the Rural Development Programme 2014-2020, it is the responsibility of the Member State to “define criteria for the selection of community led local development strategies”. In this context,€220 million of the overall LEADER programme complement for the 2014-2020 period has been allocated based on administrative or county boundaries to 28 sub-regional areas. I have no proposals to change this approach.

A further €10 million has been allocated to the cooperation element of the Programme. €15 million has been allocated for the delivery of two agri-food schemes which will be managed jointly by the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine and my Department. In addition, €5 million is being held in reserve for the purposes of supporting the REDZ initiative, pending the successful outcome of the pilot scheme launched recently.