Denis Foley
Question:28 Mr. Foley asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry when a decision will be made regarding the Leader II programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2881/95]
Written Answers. - Leader II Programme.
Colm M. Hilliard
Question:30 Mr. Hilliard asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the level of funding he has provided for in 1995 for Leader II; and when the individual applications for Leader II, submitted in 1994, will be approved. [3492/95]
Helen Keogh
Question:31 Ms Keogh asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the amount of the Irish Government's financial contribution to the Leader II programme.[3507/95]
Helen Keogh
Question:39 Ms Keogh asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the groups which have been selected for participation in the Leader II Programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3506/95]
Liz O'Donnell
Question:49 Ms O'Donnell asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry when it is proposed to commence the operation of the Leader II programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3513/95]
John Ellis
Question:56 Mr. Ellis asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the reason the Leader and INTERREG Exchequer provision in the 1995 estimates has been cut; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2787/95]
Brendan Smith
Question:88 Mr. B. Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the funding that will be provided for the Leader II programme; and when he expects the programme to be in operation.[3541/95]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 28, 30, 31, 39, 49, 56 and 88 together.
A sum of £13.731 million has been provided in the Estimates for my Department this year for Leader and INTERREG. This is made up of £12.2 million for Leader and £1.531 million for INTERREG.
In the case of Leader, the provision covers the final payments of about £0.4 million due to groups under the old programme, the balance being available for advances to groups under Leader II. Given that the new programme runs to 1999 and that groups will be mainly in a start-up phase for most of 1995, I am satisfied that the balance of £11.8 million will be sufficient to meet the needs of the Leader II programme this year.
In the case of INTERREG, the provision covers outstanding commitments of about £0.25 million from the first programme.I am satisfied that the balance available will be adequate to support any projects seeking funding in 1995 under INTERREG II.
In my reply to written questions on 24 January last, I indicated the position generally in relation to Leader II. The task of evaluating the business plans of applicant groups is advanced and, as I indicated in my previous reply, I would hope to be in a position to announce the successful groups next month.