Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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450. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the drawdown for :LEADER funding in Galway in 2017, 2018 and to date in 2019, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41078/19]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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LEADER is a multi-annual programme with a budget of €250 million over the period 2014-2020. €220 million of this budget is allocated to Local Action Groups (LAGs) who deliver the programme and approve projects at local level. The balance of €30 million is provided for thematic projects which are approved at national level.

The LEADER programme in County Galway is administered by two LAGs. The Galway West LAG - Forum Connemara CLG - covers the Connemara region and the off-shore Islands. The Galway East LAG - Galway Rural Development CLG - covers the municipal districts to the east of Galway City.

These LAGs are responsible for the delivery the programme in their respective areas, including approving project applications for funding and processing claims for payment once approved works are completed.

The total amount of funding allocated to County Galway for the duration of the LEADER Programme is in excess of €12.1 million.

Table 1 provides a breakdown of LEADER expenditure in each of the years 2017, 2018 and to date in 2019 to each of the LAGs in County Galway. The figures do not include any payments made under the thematic schemes which are approved at national level.

There has been a significant increase in project approvals nationally since the start of 2018 and this is also evident in County Galway. The Galway East LAG has now approved 57 projects applications to a value of over €2 million. A further 18 projects, requesting funding in excess of €600,000 are at earlier stages in the approvals process.

The Galway West LAG has approved funding of almost €1.5 million to 42 projects, while a further 7 projects seeking almost €500,000 in funding are at earlier stages in the process.

Payments under the programme will increase significantly as these projects are completed and payment claims submitted.

Table 1: LEADER Allocation and Expenditure for County Galway from 2017 – 2019*

*Position as of 7^thOctober 2019