Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

579. 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, amination and projects costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42994/19]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

LEADER is a multi-annual programme which has a total budget of €250 million over the period to 2020.  It is administered by Local Action Groups (LAGs) who deliver the programme across the country.

Total expenditure on the LEADER programme since it commenced - effectively in 2016 when the majority of Funding Agreements were signed with the LAGs - amounts to over €69.5 million.  This comprises:

- €1.5 million in initial costs incurred by the LAGs to develop their Local Development Strategies.

- €31.9 million in administration costs of the LAGs and the cost of their engagement with communities to generate projects.

- €36.1 million on project expenditure. 

The level of project activity under the LEADER programme has increased significantly over the last year. Over 2,400 projects have now been approved for funding of over €91.8 million.  A total of 935 projects have been approved in 2019 alone. 

A further 310 applications, requesting an additional €26.4 million, are at an earlier stage in the approvals process.

In addition, more than 100 Food and Co-operation projects have been approved at national level, outside of the core budget available to the LAGs.

Project payments have increased significantly in recent months as approved works are completed and claims are submitted. Over €36.1 million of project expenditure has been incurred to date, €22.9 million of that in the current calendar year.

Indeed, there is a growing demand for more LEADER funding to be made available in some areas. In this regard, earlier this week I announced the allocation of an additional €5 million to the 10 LAGs that are most advanced in delivering the LEADER programme.  This is further evidence of the significant progress made under LEADER since my Department introduced a range of administrative improvements to the programme in 2017 and 2018.

Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

580. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the clubs, groups and organisations that have received funding under the LEADER programme in County Galway in each of the years 2016 to 2018 and to date in 2019; the level of funding provided to each group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43131/19]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The LEADER programme in County Galway is administered by two Local Action Groups (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. 

The Funding Agreement for the LEADER 2014-2020 programme was signed with Forum Connemara in October 2016, while the Funding Agreement with Galway Rural Development was signed in April 2017. The programme effectively became operational in County Galway from these dates.

The total amount of funding allocated to County Galway for the duration of the LEADER programme to 2020 is in excess of €12.1 million.  €4.5 million of this is allocated to the Galway West LAG, and €7.6 million is allocated to the Galway East LAG.

No projects were approved for funding is these LAG areas in 2016 or 2017 as the initial focus of the LAGs was to work with potential project promoters to develop project ideas and bring forward proposals for funding.  However, 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 61 projects applications to a value of over €2 million.  A further 17 projects, requesting funding in excess of €603,000 are at earlier stages in the approvals process.  

The Galway West LAG has approved funding of over €1.5 million to 48 projects, while a further 4 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 are submitted. 

Details of all projects funded by the LEADER Local Action Groups in County Galway are available on-line at: https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/b849be-local-action-groups-approved-projects-2014-2020/.