Austin Deasy
Question:168 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the current position regarding funding for the Leader programmes; and when he expects to be able to announce same. [18460/00]
Vol. 522 No. 2
168 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the current position regarding funding for the Leader programmes; and when he expects to be able to announce same. [18460/00]
The draft guidelines for the Leader+ programme have been adopted and published by the European Commission. The guidelines set down the template for the drafting by member states of operational programmes to be submitted to the Commission for approval and clearance.
My Department is currently in the process of preparing the operational programmes for the implementation of both the Leader+ and the national Leader programmes for submission to the European Commission. It is intended to place advertisements shortly inviting expressions of interest from local groups on the application and implementation of the programmes in rural areas.