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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 8 Jul 1992

Vol. 422 No. 4

Written Answers. - Cavan-Monaghan Co-operative.

William Cotter

Question:

215 Mr. Cotter asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if he will give details of the restrictions, if any, on investments by Cavan-Monaghan co-operative set up under the terms of the Leader programme; whether investment in the development of pitch and putt facilities will be allowed considering the extreme shortage of such facilities in the area; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

The successful Leader groups are subject to the following general restrictions in making investment decisions:—

—they must respect EC and national policy constraints

—they may not offer a higher rate of aid than is available under other EC or nationally funded grant schemes.

—they may not aid an element of a project which is in receipt of grant aid from another official source.

Notwithstanding the above, a group may decide to invest in projects not normally eligible for aid under existing programmes, measures or schemes provided (a) that the group is satisfied that the project is justified by reference to local circumstances and is compatible with its business plan, (b) that the aid offered does not exceed 50 per cent of the cost of the project and (c) that the amount of aid does no exceed £50,000.

In line with the bottom-up locally-inspired approach of the Leader programme, decisions in relation to investments in specific local projects are matters for the Leader groups themselves operating within the above guide-inspire lines. All projects must of course fall within the scope of the eligible investment under Leader which are as follows: technical support to rural development, vocational training and assistance for recruitment, rural tourism, small firms, craft enterprises and local services, exploitation and marketing of agricultural, forests and fishery products and other local development measures.
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