Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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1000. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the progress made to date with the roll-out of the LEADER programme 2014 to 2020; the expenditure incurred to date on the programme by administrative costs and projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45170/18]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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LEADER is a multi-annual programme which has a total budget of €250 million over the period to 2020. 

The level of project activity under the LEADER programme has increased significantly this year, and 1,450 projects have now been approved for funding of over €46.3 million.  A further 329 project applications, requesting an additional €22.1 million, are at various stages in the approval process.

Project payments have also increased significantly in recent months, as approved works are completed and claims are submitted. Over €8 million of project expenditure has been incurred in 2018, compared to just under €700,000 in 2017.

Total expenditure on the LEADER programme since it commenced, effectively in 2016, has amounted to approximately €31 million.  This comprises:

€1.47 million in preparatory costs incurred by the LAGs to develop Local Development Strategies,

€20.31 million in administration costs of the LAGs and the cost of their engagement with communities to generate projects, and

€9.27 million on project expenditure. 

The progress now being made by the Local Action Groups in approving projects will result in a continued increase in project approvals and payments under the LEADER programme for the remainder of the year. This progress has been assisted by improvements made by my Department in the last year, to the applications and approvals process, in consultation with the LAGs.