Vol. 517 No. 3
15 Mr. Deenihan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development when the Leader+ scheme will be introduced; if the employees of the current Leader boards will be retained in their employment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9673/00]
The European Commission is finalising the draft guidelines for the Leader+ programme, consequent on the acceptance by the member states of the European Parliament's amendments. It is expected that the finalised guidelines will be published shortly.
Based on these guidelines, member states will draw up operational programmes for Leader+ for forwarding to the Commission seeking approval to commence the Leader+ programme as soon as possible. Over a number of months, the Commission will subject these programmes to scrutiny to ensure they meet the requisite standard for approval. Additionally, a Leader mainstream programme is being funded under the national development plan. As with other measures provided for in the national development plan, approval by the European Commission is necessary to enable commencement of arrangements for the establishment of Leader mainstream activity.
Pending EU clearance for Leader+ and the Leader mainstream programme under the national development plan, it is not possible to anticipate the precise arrangements for their delivery or the timing of their introduction. It is clear, however, that the Commission's intention is that funding for Leader+ will be confined to a limited number of rural areas and that the essential aim of the Leader+ measure will be to encourage the emergence and testing of new approaches to integrated and sustainable development.
In the determination of local groups for delivery of the operational programmes, the report of the task force on the integration of local government and local development systems requires that attention be given to the avoidance of overlap between agencies including Leader groups and to explore mechanisms capable of combining rural development and rural partnership activities in rural disadvantaged areas specifically.
I recognise the importance of continuity in the delivery of Leader+ and Leader-type rural development programmes. It is clear that the efforts and work done by the local action groups under the Leader I and Leader II programmes has significantly benefited local communities. I acknowledge especially the contribution made by many individuals on a voluntary basis. The earliest commencement of the two new Leader programmes is receiving full attention in my Department.
Additional Information.Groups have been funded to 30 June 2000 – the Leader II completion date – and I am conscious that a further period will elapse before the coming on-stream of the new Leader measures. I was concerned that during this interim period some loss of expertise in rural areas might occur. Accordingly, I have secured interim funding in respect of the period from 30 June 2000 to 31 December 2000 to assist with the administrative costs of existing groups. Such funding will be made available to groups who submit a plan document demonstrating their funding needs in this area. Funding of existing groups will be without prejudice to the selection of groups for the delivery of the new Leader activity.
Is the Leader+ scheme not likely to commence until 2001? If that is the case, is it not correct that Leader companies could lose valuable and experienced employees? As a result of the delay in the announcement of the Leader+ scheme and the mainstream programme, is it also not correct that morale in Leader companies is being damaged? I remind the Minister of State that Leader 11 was one of the best and most successful instruments at our disposal to encourage rural development. Will the Minister of State confirm that the Leader programme will not commence until 2001? Will he also confirm that a Leader group could operate a Leader+ scheme and a mainstream scheme?
We have not received the guidelines from Europe. When we do we will immediately commence consultations on putting the programme in place.
With regard to the Leader+ programme, we are still waiting for the entire national plan to be approved. I cannot state definitively whether Leader l or Leader+ and Leader national can be operated together because we have not seen the guidelines. However, I am pleased to inform the Deputy that I have secured funding from the Government to pay the Leader groups from 30 June to 31 December. This will ensure those people who have been well trained and who have proven to be of great benefit to their communities will be retained as members of their local groups. I assure the Deputy that staff will be paid up to 31 December.
Does the Minister of State agree that, even with this interim measure, staff will be poached by companies in the industry, particularly in view of the shortage of trained staff available and the demands which are placed on the companies to which I refer? Does he agree this will lead to huge pressure being placed on these staff to leave Leader companies which, in turn, will be deprived of people with the ability to get these schemes up and running? Does the Minister of State agree it will be at least early 2001 before the schemes commence?
I cannot stop companies poaching staff. I recognise that the valuable people to whom the Deputy refers have vast experience and would be a tremendous asset to companies which may seek to employ them. The Leader groups are a great training ground for people in terms of learning about other people and their problems. I cannot state whether the programme will commence in 2001 or in December 2000 because we have not yet received the guidelines from Europe. They were supposed to be issued in January or February and I understand the STAR committee met last week but did not discuss them.
I will allow Deputies Deenihan and Brendan Smith to pose brief supplementary questions.
Surely it should be possible to obtain the guidelines and have the programme up and running in the next four to five months. When I served as Minister of State we received the guidelines in January and, in some cases, had the programmes up and running by May. I ask the Minister of State to do everything possible to ensure the European Commission expedites this matter.
I welcome the Minister of State's announcement of continued funding for the programme this year. Given that he gave permission to local authorities to nominate members to the boards, will he make a similar provision when the new Leader programme comes on stream? It is important that local publicly elected representatives participate on those boards.
Those were more statements than questions. The time for this question has elapsed but I will allow the Minister of State to make a brief response.
I thank Deputy Smith for thanking me for obtaining additional funding. The other Deputies did not recognise my success in that regard.
The Minister of State has access to less money than we had at our disposal when we were in Government.
I do not. I have £110 million at my disposal while he had £96 million.
