Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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628. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the allocation by LAG for projects under the present Leader programme; the amount allocated to date by each; the amount spent to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10218/20]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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A total of €168.7 million has been allocated to the Local Action Groups (LAGs) around the country for core project funding under the 2014-2020 LEADER programme.

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

The level of project activity under the LEADER programme continues to increase and, to date, almost 3,000 core projects have been approved for funding of over €116 million. A further 388 project applications, with a value greater than €29 million, are at various stages in the approval process.

Project payments are now in excess of €59 million and will continue to increase as approved works are completed and claims for payment are submitted. Payments can continue to be made beyond 2020 in respect of projects approved before the end of this year.

Table 1: Total LEADER Project Allocations, Approvals and Payments by LAG as of 8^thJune 2020