I propose to take Questions Nos. 6, 21, 29, 53, 61, 64 and 108 together.
Most of the points raised were dealt with in my contribution to the Adjournment debate on Leader on 11 February and in replies to questions on 25 February and 31 March. Included in those contributions was confirmation that all of the applications along with the report and recommendations of the consultants were forwarded to the EC Commission.
As to the public funding involved in the Tipperary Enterprise case, two instalments totalling £741,000 were advanced to the company, £306,000 was refunded at my request, and some £243,000 has now been claimed under the insurance bond. The balance of £192,000 is deemed to have been eligible Leader expenditure. Arising out of the Tipperary Enterprise case, the imposition of further conditions for the renewal of the insurance bonds by the Insurance Corporation of Ireland and of additional financial control procedures have now been agreed between ICI, the groups and my Department. The new arrangements principally involve an additional annual audit of the operations of each group and one unannounced annual audit.
I am satisfied that the groups are operating, for the most part, in full accord with the guidelines drawn up by my Department and that adequate control procedures are in place. My Department is in regular contact with the groups regarding interpretation of the guidelines in particular cases.
The future of the Leader programme remains to be decided at Community level in the context of the new Structural Fund arrangements. I have, of course, been pressing for its extension. Until that decision is taken it is not, of course, possible to indicate the areas to be covered in the future.