Tom Fleming (Kerry South, Independent)
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810. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he will enable Leader programme partnership groups to maintain their delivery of services on par with the delivery of quality services under previous Leader programmes; and to achieve this, if he will provide the appropriate funding, in addition to the existing allocation, to meet the requirements of the communities they serve. [23955/15]

Ann Phelan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Labour)
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The selection process for Leader Local Development Strategies (LDS) is not yet complete and at this point in time I cannot comment on the final outcome of that process. In this context, as yet, no contract has been awarded to any entity to deliver the Leader elements of the Rural Development Programme 2014-2020. My Department is working to ensure that the selection process is completed as soon as possible and I am optimistic that the first contracts will be awarded and strategies operational in the Autumn of this year. It is at this point that the funding will be available to rural communities in Ireland under the Programme.

With regard to the current Leader Partnership Companies, only those that are successful in both stage 1 and stage 2 of the above mentioned process will be provided with appropriate funding to deliver the Leader Programme in their Local Development Strategy areas. This is in line with the LDS selection process and compliant with what is required by the EU regulatory framework. It should be noted that I have recently extended the contracts of the Local Development Companies currently completing the delivery of the Leader elements of the 2007-2013 programme until the end of September 2015 to ensure continuity of service.

I am confident that the €250 million funding available through the Leader elements of the RDP, 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 not only that the services provided through the LEADER programme are continued but also that the impact of the available funding will be maximised to support the sustainable development of our rural communities.