Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

695. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the details of all projects in County Tipperary that applied for funding in 2016 and to date in 2017 under the rural development programme; the projects which have had their funding applications rejected in 2016 and to date in 2017; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19393/17]

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

I am interpreting the Deputy’s question as relating to the LEADER programme which forms part of Ireland’s Rural Development Programme 2014-2020. The Rural Development Programme is co-funded by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) and is coordinated by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. My Department operates the LEADER programme, which supports rural economic development, social inclusion and the environment.

The agreement for delivery of the new LEADER 2014-2020 Programme in the Tipperary LEADER sub-regional area was signed on 8 July 2016, with approved funding of approximately €10.103 million over the lifetime of the programme. The Local Action Group which is responsible for LEADER in the Tipperary sub-regional area is Tipperary Local Community Development Committee, with North Tipperary LEADER Partnership and South Tipperary Development CLG delivering the programme as Implementing Partners.

I understand that a total of 300 Expressions of Interest for LEADER funding have been submitted by potential project promoters to the Local Action Group to date – 20 were submitted in 2016 and 280 have been submitted in 2017. Project promoters who are successful at Expressions of Interest stage are invited to submit a formal application for funding.

The approval or otherwise of applications under the LEADER programme is an operational matter for the Local Action Group. However, I understand that the Local Action Group in Tipperary has not as yet approved any formal applications, although those successful in the Expressions of Interest phase are progressing through the various stages of the process.

In addition to the LEADER programme, in 2016, 43 projects in Co. Tipperary were approved for funding under the 2016 CLÁR programme, 5 were approved under the Town and Village Renewal Scheme and 3 were approved under the Rural Recreation Scheme. I will forward details of the successful projects under these schemes directly to the Deputy. It is not feasible, given the number of applications made to some of these programmes, to provide details of all unsuccessful applications.

2017 funding rounds of CLÁR, Town and Village Renewal and the Rural Recreation Scheme are currently open for applications and further details of these schemes are available on my Department’s website, www.ahrrga.gov.ie.