Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

250. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the expenditure on projects under the Leader programme in each of the years 2014 to 2020 as of 30 September 2017; the approvals for projects to the same day by local action group; the steps being taken to expedite expenditure under the programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45358/17]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

LEADER is a multi-annual EU co-funded programme to support rural development.  Ireland has an allocation of €250 million under the programme over the period 2014-2020, including both national and EU funding.  The programme is administered by Local Action Groups (LAGs) who deliver funding in accordance with Local Development Strategies that have been produced for each LAG area.

Funding Agreements for the current LEADER programme were, for the most part, signed with the LAGs in the second half of 2016 and the programme effectively became operational from that date.  There was no project expenditure on the new LEADER programme prior to 2017, although funding was provided to the LAGs to develop their Local Development Strategies and to prepare for the implementation phase of the programme.

In excess of 5,000 expressions of interest have been received to date by the LAGs from potential project promoters under the 2014-2020 LEADER programme and the LAGs are currently working with project promoters to develop and finalise project applications.

As of 30thSeptember 2017, 345 projects with a value of over €8.7 million have been approved for LEADER funding by the LAGs.  The number and value of projects at final approved stage in each Local Action Group is provided in Appendix 1. This funding will be drawn down as projects start to incur expenditure and submit payment claims. As of 30th September 2017, project expenditure amounting to €140,106.25 had been drawn down. 

Progress has continued in October, with over 400 projects now fully approved for LEADER grant aid of over €10 million. This compares to projects with a LEADER grant aid of less than €1 million approved in the first 6 months of the year. 

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

Appendix 1 – Projects at Final Approved stage in each LAG at 30 September 2017