Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein)
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1191. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development if her Department will consider granting an exceptional extension regarding the LEADER programme in which projects approved by the end of 2020 but ultimately may not go ahead allowing the funding to be used for other 2020 projects that missed out. [44658/20]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Last December, I announced funding of €20 million for the Transitional LEADER Programme, which will come into effect from 1 April 2021 for new project approvals.

In tandem with this announcement and in response to a number of requests for an extension of the timeline for project approvals, I extended the deadline for project commitments under the 2014-2020 programme to the end of March 2021 to facilitate the full allocation of the funds available to the Local Action Groups (LAGs).

In addition, for the duration of the Transitional Programme, LAGs will also be permitted to reallocate any funds approved under the 2014-2020 LEADER Programme which are subsequently decommitted from a project as a result of an underspend, or non-progression of a project. Projects availing of this reallocated funding must be approved by the LAGs on or before 31 December 2022 and completed by 31 December 2023.

Final claims for payment under the 2014-2020 programme must be submitted to my Department no later than 30 June 2024.

My Department has advised the LAGs of the changes by way of a circular issued to them in December 2020.