Seán Fleming (Laois, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

911. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the amount that has been spent from Leader on projects in County Carlow; the number of projects pending; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12197/18]

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. The programme is administered by Local Action Groups, LAGs, which are responsible for approving projects from applicants in accordance with Local Development Strategies that have been agreed for each LAG area.

Ireland has an allocation of €250 million under the LEADER programme over the period 2014-2020. The allocation to the LAG in the Carlow LEADER sub-regional area for the period to 2020 is €6.416 million.

As set out on the table at Appendix 1, a total of 16 project applications with a value of €1.25 million had been received by the Carlow LAG up to 9 March 2018. Of these, 11 projects with a value of €810,557 had been approved.

As has been the case with 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.

Overall, 834 projects with a value of €23.6 million have been approved to date under the LEADER programme across all LAG areas. A further 243 projects, with a value of €14 million, are at various stages in the approvals process.

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 assist LAGs and project promoters in their delivery of the programme.

LEADER project applications and approvals in County Carlow on 9 March 2018.