Written answers

Tuesday, 22 September 2015

Department of Environment, Community and Local Government

EU Funding

Photo of Michael Healy-RaeMichael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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1401. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30728/15]

Photo of Ann PhelanAnn Phelan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Labour)
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Ireland has received an allocation from the EU of €2.1 billion for the Rural Development Programme 2014-2020 (RDP). The EU Regulations provide for a minimum allocation of 5% for LEADER of the EU element of the Programme at a co-financed rate of 80%. This would have given an allocation of €136.8 million. This Government has increased the minimum allocation to 7% and will co-finance it at 37% giving a total of €235 million, made up of €148.05m in EU funding and €86.95m in national funding. Two Agri-Food schemes with a budget of €15 million will also be delivered using the LEADER approach bringing the total programme complement to €250m.

In determining the county allocations, three objective criteria were used, namely, minimum allocation, population density and a Resource Allocation Model (RAM). Each county was given a minimum allocation of €3 million to ensure that each received a viable level of funding. 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 2014-2020. On this basis, County Kerry received an overall allocation of just over €10.2m.

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.  

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