Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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617. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the amount sanctioned to date in 2017 under the Leader programmes 2014 to 2020 for projects; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35997/17]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The LEADER Programme is administered by Local Action Groups (LAGs) that deliver funding in line with Local Development Strategies that have been developed for each LAG area.

To date, 270 projects with a value of over €6.4 million have been approved for LEADER funding by the LAGs. 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. In addition, the LAGs are currently concluding calls for proposals in each of their sub-regional areas and are assisting 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.