Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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203. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht whether any European funding is available for infrastructure projects in a bid to develop and create opportunities in disadvantaged regions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38121/16]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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This Government aims to deliver balanced development across the regions so that as the economy recovers, the benefits are felt across the country. Responsibility for key elements of the Government's regional development strategy is shared across a number of Government Departments and State agencies.

One of the key European funding lines which aims to address regional imbalances across Europe is the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), which is managed in Ireland by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. The current funding period runs from 2014 to 2020 and Ireland's allocation of €409 m will be delivered through two separate Regional Operational Programmes managed respectively by the Southern Regional Assembly and the Northern & Western Regional Assembly. The specific focus of the two programmes will be on research and innovation, information and communications technologies, small and medium-sized enterprises and promoting a low carbon economy.

In addition to this, the LEADER Programme 2014-2020 is co-funded through the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) and supports locally identified initiatives relating to social inclusion, poverty reduction and the economic development of rural areas. LEADER funding can support relevant infrastructural projects in this context. The total amount of funding provided in Ireland for LEADER 2014-2020 is €250 million and will be distributed by LEADER Local Action Groups to rural communities in line with the actions identified in their local development strategies.