Vol. 469 No. 3
214 Miss Harney asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry if he has satisfied himself with recruitment procedures operated by the Leader II Programme in County Meath; if he has further satisfied himself with the procedures used in allocating grants under the Leader programmes in general; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17422/96]
My Department has no direct role in the recruitment of staff by approved Leader groups. In accordance with the bottom-up philosophy of Leader the preparation of business plans, including the recruitment of staff to administer the plans, decisions on the allocation of grants and the procedures used are matters for the groups themselves. The procedures used vary from group to group.
However, all groups must operate within the terms of very detailed operating rules which have been set down by my Department and which relate to valuation procedures, eligibility of projects, grants rates and other matters relating to the administration of the business plans. The operating rules are designed to ensure accountability and transparency in the administration of public funds.
