Vol. 451 No. 2
12 Mr. Cowen asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the present position regarding the Leader II programme; the resources being allocated for the programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6457/95]
20 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry if he has considered favourably the application from the Dublin Leader Planning Group for Leader funding in view of the fact that many rural areas in County Dublin are more agricultural and further from the capital than parts of the surrounding counties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4823/95]
122 Mr. Dempsey asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry when he will announce the participants in the Leader II programme; and if he will confirm that Meath Community Partnership Company will be included in that scheme. [6159/95]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 12, 20 and 122 together.
In my replies to questions on 24 January and 16 February last, I indicated the position generally in relation to Leader II at that time. The position is that negotiations with the European Commission on the implementation of Leader II in Ireland have been completed and the Commission's approval of our programme is imminent.
In the meantime I am completing my assessment of the business plans of the 48 applicant groups, taking account of the report of the independent consultants engaged to assist me in this task. I expect to be able to make an announcement about the groups being selected for the new programme in the next few weeks. For that reason, it would be inappropriate for me to comment on any particular group at this stage. In the case of Leader I groups, we have already agreed that their necessary administrative cost from 1 January will be eligible for Leader funding in the event of their selection for the new programme.
As indicated in reply to previous questions, the European Commission originally allocated £37 million to Ireland for Leader II. This was supplemented by a further £17 million from a reserve of £64 million provided for the implementation of all the Community initiatives in Ireland. This EU funding of £54 million will be topped up with a significant Exchequer contribution which will be announced shortly. At the mid-term review, I will press for additional resources from the reserve still retained by the Commission. It should also be borne in mind, of course, that on top of the EU and national public funding for Leader II, private matching investment on a similar scale will be available. In addition, considerable resources will also be available in rural areas under the local development programme.
I am well aware of the keen interest in our rural communities in Leader II and I have made it my business since coming into office to meet representatives of the various applicant groups. I look forward to working with the successful groups over the next few years when I am confident that the successes of the first programme will be built on.
Is the Minister aware that the momentum built up as a result of the successful Leader I programme is waning due to the time lapse between Leader I and II? When will the announcement be made? When he talks about significant Exchequer funding does he mean funding in the region of £100 million will be provided which is what is expected by the Leader groups? When did the independent consultants report to him?
I am doing my best to get a solution to Leader II and announce the succesful groups. A decision from the EU is imminent. I went to the EU some weeks ago to resolve difficulties which we were unaware of earlier. I am glad to say these have been resolved and we expect an announcement to be made, hopefully this week. A submission will be made to Government in the next few weeks recommending the successful groups and I hope the Government will respond quickly. The definitive level of Exchequer funding will be announced when the selection of the groups is announced. The momentum built up by Leader I has not been lost. The fact that Leader II groups came together has created its own momentum. They are engaged in other activities and are not waiting for Leader II funding. I agree with the Deputy that Leader II is an important initiative and there is a lot of interest in it in rural communities. I am very impressed by the groups I met and optimistic about the success of Leader II.
What percentage of the 48 groups which applied under Leader II does the Minister expect to be in a position to assist? While the quality of the business plans is a major criterion and a necessary one for assessment will he ensure there is a geographical spread so that there is a proper rural development programme under Leader II? Will Leader I groups be discriminated against because they began rural development programmes and many require funding under Leader II to make a success of what they set out to achieve? Will the Minister of State give the date on which the independent consultants reported to him?
We hope to select 35 groups out of the 47 applicants. In some cases there was duplication and overlap. There is no question of Leader I groups being discriminated against under the Leader II programme. Each application is assessed on its merits. Reference to Leader I will not be taken into account in determining whether a group is capable of carrying out the Leader II programme. I hope all the Leader I groups will be included.
The report by McIver consultants was issued about four weeks ago. Departmental officials carried out an analysis of the various applications and are in the process of producing a final report. Generally they agree with the consultants' report which will be submitted to the Government. I am relying on the expertise of the departmental officials and on the consultants involved to decide on the best groups. Political involvement in the programme must be kept to a minimum particularly as regards deciding which groups should be chosen, who should be on the board or the amount of funding they should receive. Decisions must be left to the groups. It is a community driven scheme and its control evaluation must be left in the hands of communities.
At departmental level we must ensure that the scheme is properly implemented and that the money is spent wisely. I am confident that the groups will make a success of Leader II because they are well constituted and representative of their communities. I look forward to the programme being put in place as soon as possible. It will be an important instrument in the development of future rural policy.
Is the Minister saying that the recommendations of the independent consultancy group will dictate which 35 groups will be chosen and that the Minister will not have any discretion in the matter?
That is the manner in which I hope it will proceed. There will also be a cross analysis by Department officials who have been dealing with the various Leader I groups during the past three years. Those officials have close ties with those groups and are aware of what is happening. I hope that is the best way to proceed to ensure and preserve the integrity of the Leader programme.
