Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

111. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount of funding available for spending in 2015 and 2016, respectively, under the Commission for the Economic Development of Rural Areas rural innovation and development fund; the projects and schemes being funded out of this fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26568/15]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Funding of €1 million has been provided in this Department’s 2015 Vote for pilot innovative projects which progress the CEDRA remit. The provision for 2016 will be determined as part of the annual budgetary process A strong framework work programme for this fund has been developed and will be progressed over the remainder of this year. The proposed work programme includes pilot schemes for the development of female rural entrepreneurs, social farming, village/town regeneration based on local food markets and artisan produce and agri-tourism projects.

In that context, funding has been provided for Leitrim Development Company to provide overall support for social farming operations and specifically to develop four new social farming initiatives around the country.

A tender issued last month for the development and implementation of a pilot programme to develop the entrepreneurial skills of nascent female entrepreneurs living in rural areas. The closing date for receipt of tenders is 9 July.

In addition, two separate open competitive calls have been prepared seeking applications for part funding for proposals which enhance (a) existing social farming operations and (b) community based food/artisan/craft markets or shops in villages/small towns. Following recent sanction from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, these pilot open calls for proposals, which will be competitive, will be advertised shortly on a national basis.

Finally, plans are being formulated for a further competitive call around agri-tourism projects with a particular emphasis on food, beverages and the marine, which could be partially funded from this CEDRA allocation. Details of the latter proposal have been finalised recently and will be advertised following sanction from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.