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

22. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the amount spent to date under the 2014 to 2020 LEADER programme by project and administration costs; the amount expended to date on project costs by each LAG; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50620/19]

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

Total expenditure on the LEADER programme since it commenced - effectively in 2016 - amounts to over €75 million. This comprises:

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

- €33.5 million in administration costs of the LAGs and the cost of their engagement with communities to generate projects.

- €40.1 million on project expenditure. 

Project payments continue to increase as approved works reach completion and claims are submitted for payment. Of the €40 million project expenditure which has been incurred to date, €27 million has been paid out in 2019.

Over 1,000, or 40%, of project promoters have now received a Final Payment in respect of their project. The Programme is now delivering real and tangible results for communities right across rural Ireland and I am confident that the increased stream of project approvals by the LAGs and payment claims being submitted to my Department will continue at pace for the remainder of the programming period.

The following table provides a breakdown of project payments made to date to each LAG. The figures do not include payments made under the thematic schemes funded outside of the core budget allocated to each LAG.

Total LEADER Project payments by LAG as at 2 December 2019