Mary Upton
Question:128 Dr. Upton asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if he will consider a request for interim funding for the Bantry Bay coastal zone charter to carry out their important work. [5347/03]
Written Answers - Leader Programme.
Dan Boyle
Question:129 Mr. Boyle asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the consideration he will give to the request for resources required by Bantry Bay coastal zone charter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5089/03]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 128 and 129 together.
My Department has responsibility for community and local development programmes including Leader.
I would like to confirm I have received correspondence regarding this project. My Department has already advised the Bantry Bay Coastal Zone Charter that the charter might pursue the possibility of funding this project under the Leader programme and might make a formal proposal to the local Leader group, West Cork Leader Co-operative Limited. Leader is the EU Community Initiative for Rural Development that provides approved local action groups with public funding, EU and national, to implement multi-sectoral business plans for the development of their own areas.
I must emphasise however that the Leader programme is operated in accordance with the bottom-up philosophy of rural development and that the local Leader group is the decision-making authority in relation to approving actions falling within its business plan.