Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 7 Dec 1999

Vol. 512 No. 3

Written Answers - Rural Development Plan.

Michael Creed

Question:

138 Mr. Creed asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development when he will lodge the rural development plan with the European Commission; when the revised REP scheme, early retirement scheme, Leader funding and other schemes contingent on the plan will be up and running; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25879/99]

Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development (Mr. Walsh)

Under the terms of the new Council regulation on support for rural development, rural development plans to be funded from FEOGA guarantee must be submitted to the Commission by member states by 4 January 2000. It is intended that the Irish plan, which will cover four measures, REPS, early retirement, compensatory allowances and forestry, will be lodged before that date.

My objective will be to secure the earliest agreement of the Commission to the plan so that the four measures can be implemented as soon as possible in 2000. Guidelines for the new community initiative Leader plus, which is separate to the rural development plan, have only now been agreed and member states have six months to draw up their Leader programmes.