Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
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881. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the number of applications his Department received under the rural development programme in 2015; the number of these which were approved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1289/16]

Ann Phelan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Labour)
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LEADER forms part of Ireland’s Rural Development Programme 2014 – 2020, which was approved by the European Commission in May 2015. The submission of project applications under the new LEADER programme will commence following the completion and approval of local development strategies for each of the 28 sub-regional areas designated for LEADER in Ireland. As required under EU rules, a minimum period of six months to mid-January 2016 has been allowed for the submission of these strategies by all potential Local Action Groups that were successful at the expression of interest stage.

To date, fourteen local development strategies have been received and these are being assessed by Pobal before being forwarded to an Independent Evaluation Committee for final evaluation and decision.

The Independent Evaluation Committee has already approved two of these strategies subject to further clarification and supporting documentation being provided. As a result, I expect that contracts will be agreed shortly and project applications in respect of the relevant sub-regional areas can commence thereafter.