Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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65. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the status of the LEADER funding which has been drawn down by groups in counties Cavan, Monaghan and Meath to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8741/18]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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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) which deliver funding in accordance with Local Development Strategies that have been agreed for each LAG area.

€220 million of the €250 million approved for Leader under the Rural Development Programme (RDP) 2014-2020 has already been allocated to each LAG area. This allocation covers the full duration of the Programme as it provides greater flexibility to Local Acton Groups in managing their allocation within and between years.

As has been the case under previous Leader Programmes, there is a natural lead-in period required where the Local Action Groups conclude calls for proposals and work with potential applicants to develop and finalise funding proposals which will ultimately be delivered in each area. This is consistent with the experience of other EU programmes.

Details of the allocations provided for the delivery of the Programme in each of the areas referred to by the Deputy is provided at Appendix 1 along with the details of the approvals issued and payments made by the respective Local Action Groups. No project expenditure has yet been incurred in the Cavan sub-regional area.

I anticipate that there will be a significant increase in project expenditure over the course of 2018 based on the progress which has been made by the LAGs in approving projects in recent months. My Department has also introduced a number of administrative improvements to the Leader programme which will also assist LAGs and project promoters in their delivery of the programme. 

Leader project applications and approvals in Counties Cavan, Monaghan and Meath on 19th February 2018.