Austin Currie
Question:219 Mr. Currie asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development when the rural Dublin Leader programme will recommence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13641/01]
Written Answers - Leader Programmes.
My Department is in negotiation with the European Commission as regards the draft Leader+ Operational Programme which has already progressed through a number of procedural stages within the Commission. It is expected that a decision on approval will be issued by the Commission within the next number of weeks. At the same time, approval to proceed will be given for the Leader national rural development programme. Both programmes will operate in the period to 2006.
The process of selecting local rural development groups to deliver the programmes is proceeding in parallel. In common with the totality of rural development groups, the business plans submitted by the rural group concerned by way of application to deliver the programmes are being examined. The independent consultant contracted to assess all the business plans submitted is concluding the work and will make recommendations which will be taken into account by my Department's selection committee. It is expected that the selection committee will arrive at its conclusions within a short timeframe, having regard to the terms of the Commission's formal approval when received. I will then make a report to Government and the formal appointment of the appropriate number of groups will be decided by Government.
Pending this, I have to date allocated £4.8 million by way of interim funding to existing groups without prejudice as to which groups will be appointed to deliver the forthcoming Leader programmes. The interim funding will help groups maintain a core resource of expertise in order that proposals for sustainable projects can be put in train promptly by the groups appointed to deliver the two new programmes.