Olivia Mitchell
Question:483 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the plans his Department has to grant interim funding to a group (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5383/03]
Written Answers - Departmental Funding.
Martin Ferris
Question:487 Mr. Ferris asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if interim funding will be provided for the Bantry Bay charter project. [5530/03]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 483 and 487 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.
Question No. 484 answered with Question No. 481.