Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

47. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the status of the Leader programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19839/16]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I am pleased to note that I will launch the LEADER programme at an event in Virginia, Co. Cavan, tomorrow morning. My Department has issued funding agreements to local action groups in 21 of the 28 sub-regional areas designated under the LEADER programme and I expect that most, if not all, of these local action groups will be in a position to finalise their respective agreements at this event.

The delivery of LEADER will commence immediately in these areas and the local action groups can begin receiving applications starting from Monday morning. I am aware that a large amount of work has been on-going behind the scenes in each area since the closure of the old LEADER programme, aided with funding from my Department, and I expect that these groups should be able to hit the ground running in terms of receiving and approving applications.

I am also confident that Funding Agreements will issue in the remaining 7 LEADER sub-regional areas in the coming weeks as the local action groups provide the additional information and clarifications requested by the Independent Selection Committee established to review and select the strategies submitted in each area. Indeed, the Independent Selection Committee is meeting today to review progress and will meet again in early August to facilitate the finalisation of strategies.

There is also the possibility of an appeal in two of the competitive areas where more than one strategy was submitted and that process must be allowed to run its course before a Funding Agreement can issue. I can assure the Deputy that funding agreements will issue in all of these remaining areas as a matter of urgency, once all of the outstanding issues have been resolved.

In conclusion, I am pleased to note that LEADER funding can now begin to flow to communities throughout Ireland and I look forward to providing funding to the many fine LEADER projects that will undoubtedly emerge in the coming months and years.