Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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309. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht in circumstances in which Government funding has been allocated to a community enterprise (details supplied) and subsequently an issue arises over right of access, the appeal mechanisms for the certified registered folio land number; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15249/17]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The approval of LEADER funding for individual projects is a matter for the Local Action Groups (LAGs) which administer the LEADER programme in their respective areas and I have no function in relation to those matters.

When a project promoter submits an application for funding to a LAG, it is assessed having regard, inter alia, to the nature of the project and its compliance with the rules and regulations governing the LEADER Programme. It is the responsibility of the promoting organisation to satisfy itself that all Programme conditions have been complied with and that the necessary permissions, where required, have been obtained.

Where a dispute arises in relation to any particular issue, it is a matter for the parties concerned to resolve them. While I have no role in this regard in relation to the specific case referred to by the Deputy, I have nonetheless asked my officials to bring the matter which has been raised to the attention of the LAG concerned.

Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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310. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht when local communities across County Galway will be approved an administrator for the roll-out of Leader funding (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15514/17]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Following a competitive process for the implementation of the LEADER 2014-2020 programme in Co. Galway, a Local Development Strategy submitted by Forum Connemara was selected for delivery by an Independent Selection Committee in 2016. The selected strategy covers the municipal district of Connemara, including Inisbofin and the Aran Islands. The new LEADER Programme has been operational in these areas since 1st November 2016.

As the selected strategy did not cover the full area of County Galway, an Expression of Interest process for the delivery of LEADER in the remaining rural areas of east Galway was launched by my Department on 10th October 2016. A sum of €7.7 million will be available under LEADER for the east Galway region.

Arising from the Expression of Interest process, I understand that the preparation of a Local Development Strategy for the east Galway region is at an advanced stage and is expected to be submitted to my Department before the end of March for evaluation and subsequent consideration by an Independent Selection Committee. The Independent Selection Committee will review the strategy towards the end of April.

Provided that the strategy meets the required standard, I would expect to be in a position to sign a Funding Agreement for the delivery of the LEADER 2014-2020 Programme in east Galway shortly after the Selection Committee’s deliberations.