Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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193. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she has finalised and signed off the procedures manual and the operating rules and if not, when she will do this; when she will sign the contracts with the local community development committee; and when she will formulate and sign off the service level agreements under the rural development programme. [16554/16]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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My Department is currently finalising implementation arrangements for LEADER delivery and I expect to shortly issue contracts to local action groups so that delivery can commence in each area. The operating rules governing the programme have been finalised and will be circulated to all of the proposed local action groups shortly. A number of these proposed local action groups have also been collaborating to develop harmonised procedures manuals and processes, and this work is progressing well.

The Service Level Agreement between each Local Community Development Committee, and its implementing and financial partners, is a matter for agreement at local level. Having said that, my Department has contributed to the drafting of a template agreement and will continue to work with all entities to conclude a workable format.