Joe Higgins
Question:257 Mr. J. Higgins asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if he intends to fund the Bantry Bay coastal zone charter project. [7525/03]
Written Answers - Coastal Protection.
My Department has responsibility for community and local development, including delivery of the Leader and CLÁR programmes. My Department has already advised the Bantry Bay coastal zone charter that it might pursue the possibility of funding this project through the Leader programme and might make a formal proposal to the local Leader group, West Cork Leader Co-operative Limited. Leader is the EU community initiative for rural development that provides approved local action groups with public funding, EU and national, to implement multi-sectoral business plans for the development of their own areas.
The Leader programme is operated in accordance with the bottom-up philosophy of rural development, which means that the local Leader group is the decision-making authority in approving actions falling within its business plan. The Deputy will appreciate that it would not be appropriate for me to be involved in this process.