Vol. 457 No. 7
286 Mr. Gallagher (Donegal South-West) asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry if the Gaeltacht and island areas in Ireland will receive part of the extra £13 million granted by the European Commission for the Leader II programme in Ireland; if he is making a sizeable effort to ensure that this is the case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16411/95]
307 Mr. Gallagher (Donegal South-West) asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry when the extra £13 million granted by the European Commission for the Leader II programme in Ireland will be allocated; if he will give priority to the Border counties with regard to these moneys in view of the ongoing rural depopulation in these areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16407/95]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 286 and 307 together. The additional funding for Leader II which amounts to £18.27 million (EU and national contributions) will be allocated during 1996 on the basis of a detailed examination of progress in implementing the programme, the on-going independent evaluation and other relevant factors including the needs of particular areas.
