Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 25 Oct 2000

Vol. 524 No. 6

Written Answers. - Leader Programmes.

Michael Ring

Question:

182 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development when LEADER plus will be fully operational; when the new guidelines for assistance will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23509/00]

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

Leader type activity in the period to 2006 will be delivered through the European Union Leader+ Programme, together with a mainstream national rural development programme. Funding of over £117 million has been allocated to the two programmes. Work on the preparation of the operational programme for Leader+ is at an advanced stage and it is expected that it will be lodged with the European Commission shortly. The programme will also be presented to the Special North-South EU Programmes Body for its endorsement in tandem with the Northern Ireland Leader programme in respect of cross-Border aspects.

A period of five months is provided for to facilitate the commission's consideration of the programme prior to deciding on approval. While I will be pushing for early approval of the programme, it is unlikely that approval will be forthcoming before the end of the year.

The national rural development programme forms part of the regional operational programmes and will be funded under the National Development Plan 2000-2006. Given their complementarity, the European Commission has indicated that the approval process for the national rural development programme and the Leader+ programme should take place simultaneously.

Advertisements inviting interested groups to submit full business plans for either or both programmes were placed in the national and provincial papers and farming press with a closing date for receipt of applications of Friday next, 27 October 2000.

An independent consultant will be commissioned to examine applications for assistance made under the programmes and make recommendations on selection. The Department will consider this assessment and a report will be made to Government who will make the final decision on groups. The process for selection of groups to operate the new programmes will proceed contemporaneously with the commission's consideration of the programmes. I expect that the decision on the successful groups will follow shortly after the commission's approval of the programmes. Detailed programme operating rules are being drafted at present for clearance by the European Commission and these will form the basis for the operation of groups when appointed.