Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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612. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the level of expenditure committed at the end of 2018 under the 2014 to 2020 LEADER programme for each programme; the drawdown of such grant aid to date by each programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3091/19]

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.  €220 million of this funding has been allocated to each of the individual Local Action Groups (LAGs) who deliver LEADER.  The remaining €30 million is allocated for thematic programmes delivered at a national level. 

Total expenditure on the LEADER programme since it commenced, effectively in 2016, until the end of 2018 amounted to approximately €37.6 million. This comprises:

- €1.5 million for costs incurred by the Local Action Groups to develop Local Development Strategies,

- €23 million for the administration costs of the LAGs and the cost of their engagement with communities to generate projects, and

- €13.1 million on project expenditure.

The level of project activity under the LEADER programme increased significantly during 2018.  In total at the end of 2018, 1,626 projects had been approved by the LAGs for funding of over €55.3 million.  A further 349 project applications, requesting an additional €21.7 million, were at various stages in the approvals process. 

Table 1 below provides a breakdown of the number of projects approved by each Local Action Group, together with details of the project payments made to date.  Expenditure will increase in line with project approvals, as these projects are implemented and submit payment claims.

Table 1: Total LEADER Approvals and Expenditure by LAG