Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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615. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the spend on the Leader programme to date in 2017 broken down between animation, administration and project spend; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35994/17]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Expenditure of approximately €5.420 million has been incurred to date in 2017 under the LEADER 2014-2020 programme. Approximately €5.301 million of this amount represents combined administration and animation expenditure by the Local Action Groups (LAGs) who deliver the programme in each LEADER sub-regional area. In line with Article 35 of EU Regulation 1303/2015, up to 25% of total expenditure incurred by LEADER Local Action Groups may be claimed in respect of administration and animation costs over the duration of the 2014-2020 programme.

270 projects with a value of over €6.4 million have been approved for LEADER funding by the LAGs this year. Funding offers have been issued to 141 of these project promoters and it is expected that the remainder will receive funding offers over the coming weeks as any outstanding matters are resolved. Project expenditure amounting to €118,029 has been paid out under the programme to date in 2017. The LAGs are also continuing to assist project promoters in developing and finalising project applications.

I am confident that progress now being made by the LAGs, along with the administrative changes being introduced following on from the LEADER Forum which I hosted in May, will result in a significant increase in project approvals and payments under the LEADER programme over the coming months.

Responsibility for the LEADER programme will shortly transfer to the Minister for Rural and Community Development, Michael Ring, T.D.