Bernard Allen
Question:152 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the steps, if any, he has taken to encourage the development of local and rural development programmes, notably Leader II. [17705/97]
Written Answers. - Leader II Programme.
I am fully committed to supporting local community development and to encouraging the "bottom-up" philosophy embodied in the Leader programme for which my Department has responsibility.
Since assuming office, I have visited a number of Leader groups to demonstrate my support for their work. I am pursuing with the European Commission changes in the programme operating rules which will facilitate the Leader groups in their efforts at local level and I intend to convene a national Leader conference in the very near future. I will continue to visit and meet with many more of the groups during the period ahead.