Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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261. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht when funding for Leader in County Longford will be signed off and the money granted; the reason there has been an extended delay in this process; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32632/16]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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An independent Selection Committee was established to review and select the LEADER Local Development Strategies submitted in each of the 28 sub-regional areas covered by the LEADER programme.

The Local Development Strategy submitted for County Longford was developed by Longford Local Community Development Committee (LCDC), with Longford Community Resources CLG as its implementing partner, and Longford County Council as its lead financial partner. I understand that the Selection Committee requested additional information and clarifications regarding the strategy submitted for County Longford. Following on from the receipt of the requested information, the Committee selected the LEADER strategy for County Longford at its meeting on 27 October 2016.

A Funding Agreement has issued to Longford LCDC for the delivery of the LEADER programme in the area covered by its strategy and I understand that this Funding Agreement has now been signed by the relevant parties in Longford. The amount allocated for this strategy is €7.597 million.