Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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421. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the allocation for projects to each LAG under the Leader programme 2014-2020; the amount allocated for projects by each LAG to date; the amount expended by each; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28836/19]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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LEADER is a multi-annual programme with a total budget of €250 million over the period 2014-2020. €220 million of this funding has been allocated to the Local Action Groups (LAGs) throughout the country who deliver the LEADER programme. This allocation includes both core project funding and administration and animation costs for the LAGs.

The remaining €30 million in the programme is available for thematic schemes to be delivered at a national level and is allocated as projects are approved.

Table 1 provides a breakdown of the amount allocated to projects by each LAG under the LEADER programme 2014-2020, the value of projects approved to date, and the amount paid by LAGs to date on projects. The figures do not include expenditure or approvals under national-level thematic schemes which operate on a competitive bid basis.

Total project expenditure on the current LEADER programme since it commenced, effectively in 2016, amounts to almost €24 million. The level of project activity under the programme has increased significantly since the start of 2018 and 2,130 projects have now been approved for funding of over €75.5 million. A further 370 project applications, requesting in excess of €27.2 million, are at various stages in the approval process. Project expenditure will increase significantly as these projects are implemented and payments are drawn down.

Table 1: Total LEADER Project Allocations, Approvals and Payments by LAG as of 30^thJune 2019