Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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525. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will increase matching funding to optimum levels to draw down the optimum amount of European funding for community and rural development; the amounts involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26688/16]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The total amount of funding provided for the LEADER 2014-2020 Programme is €250 million. This funding is being provided by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) at the rate of 63% of total costs, with the remaining 37% in matching funding being provided by the Exchequer. The percentage matching funding provided, at 37%, is higher than the percentage applied under the previous LEADER programme which ran from 2007-2013.

Based on the level of matching funding provided, I am confident that the full level of EU funding for the LEADER 2014-2020 Programme will be drawn down during the lifetime of the Programme.