Pat Buckley (Cork East, Sinn Fein)
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405. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht to outline her views on the 70% cut to funding for Leader Cork county scheme; if she will commit to restoring funding; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19605/16]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The LEADER element of the Rural Development Programme (RDP) 2014–2020 will provide €250 million in financial resources to support the development of sustainable rural communities. Under the programme, funding will be distributed by Local Action Groups to rural communities in line with the local development strategies that have been developed within each sub-regional area in Ireland.

In determining the county allocations for the 2014-2020 LEADER programme, 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. However, county Cork was allocated €6 million as a minimum in order to ensure a viable allocation to each of the three administrative districts within the county, as the overall population outside of the city is almost twice that of any other county.

The methodology used to calculate the allocations was designed to ensure that the available funding was weighted towards the most rural populations and those experiencing most rural disadvantage. 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. Under these criteria, county Cork was awarded funding of some €13.9 million.

The allocation of additional funding to LEADER groups throughout Ireland, which is referred to in the new Programme for Government, will be considered in due course.