As the Deputy may be aware, 36 Local Action Groups have been contracted to deliver the LEADER elements of the Rural Development Programme (RDP) 2007-2013. The Programme has been fully operational since late January 2009. Under the RDP, the main measure providing direct support for investment and job creation is Support for Business Creation and Development. In addition, there a number of other measures in the Programme, which will contribute to job creation. These include (i) Diversification into Non Agricultural Activities, (ii) Encouragement of Tourism Activities, (iii) Basic Services for the Economy and Rural Population, (iv) Village Renewal and Development and (v) Conservation and Upgrading of the Rural Heritage.
Over the lifetime of the RDP, each Group has been assigned a total allocation as well as an allocation under each individual measure. Allocations under the Business Creation and Development Measure are detailed in the table below. Under the Programme, a maximum of 20% of the overall Programme allocation can be assigned to administration costs.
In line with the bottom-up nature of the LEADER approach, the Local Action Group is the principal decision-maker in the allocation of project funding. My Department does not have any role to play in the decision-making process at group level. All Groups are currently accepting applications for funding under the various measures in the RDP, in accordance with their individual Local Development Strategies.
I can assure the Deputy that my Department is working closely with the Local Action Groups so that they maximise the impact of all funding received through the RDP in their own areas. This is being done in the context of the local strategies of the individual groups and in line with the overall objectives of the Programme. Each local Action group has received authorisation to approve projects for 2009, 2010 and 2011 to a total value as per table.
|
Local Action Group
|
Overall Programme Allocation
|
Business Creation and Development Measure
|
Overall Authorisation to approve projects to date
|
|
€
|
€
|
€
|
|
Avondhu/Blackwater Partnership
|
9,057,810
|
1,323,000.00
|
844,195
|
|
Ballyhoura Development Ltd
|
11,673,519
|
1,470,000.00
|
1,024,659
|
|
Carlow Co Development Partnership Ltd
|
8,878,177
|
680,000.00
|
82,6987
|
|
Cavan and Monaghan LEADER
|
12,035,118
|
1,405,000.00
|
112,1681
|
|
Comhar na nOileán Teo
|
4,642,415
|
262,000.00
|
1,307,469
|
|
Clare Local Development Co. Ltd
|
14,028,529
|
1,990,000.00
|
349,635
|
|
Donegal Local Development Co. Ltd.
|
12,831,901
|
1,195,000.00
|
1,178,940
|
|
FORUM Connemara
|
9,668,965
|
1,250,000.00
|
723,869
|
|
Fingal LEADER Partnership
|
7,766,780
|
920,000.00
|
901,155
|
|
Galway Rural Development Co. Ltd.
|
15,257,985
|
1,165,000.00
|
1,422,056
|
|
Inishowen Development Partnership
|
8,286,143
|
895,000.00
|
772,275
|
|
IRD Duhallow
|
10,315,943
|
1,260,000.00
|
961,453
|
|
Cill Dara ar Aghaidh Teo
|
12,282,448
|
955,000.00
|
1,144,733
|
|
Co Kilkenny LEADER Partnership Ltd
|
11,523,729
|
1,680,000.00
|
997,674
|
|
Laois Community and Enterprise Development Co. Ltd
|
10,993,608
|
1,630,000.00
|
1,024,613
|
|
Leitrim Integrated Development Co
|
10,845,497
|
1,220,000.00
|
1,010,808
|
|
Longford Community Resource Ltd
|
8,714,110
|
895,000.00
|
812,162
|
|
Louth LEADER Partnership
|
8,839,815
|
1,285,000.00
|
823,878
|
|
Mayo North East LEADER Partnership Co. Teo
|
10,751,894
|
1,265,000.00
|
1,002,085
|
|
Meath Partnership
|
12,748,771
|
1,486,000.00
|
1,188,195
|
|
Meitheal Forbartha na Gaeltachta Teo
|
17,278,809
|
1,680,000.00
|
1,610,398
|
|
North & East Kerry LEADER Partnership Teo
|
10,558,882
|
970,000.00
|
984,096
|
|
North Tipperary LEADER Partnership Co
|
9,708,008
|
960,000.00
|
904,794
|
|
Offaly Integrated Local Development Co
|
11,520,489
|
1,230,000.00
|
1,073,718
|
|
Roscommon Integrated Development Co
|
12,838,021
|
1,754,000.00
|
1,085,531
|
|
Co. Sligo LEADER Partnership Co
|
10,888,673
|
1,160,000.00
|
1,014,833
|
|
South East Cork Area Development Ltd
|
10,641,494
|
720,000.00
|
991,795
|
|
South Tipperary Local Development Co.Ltd
|
11,106,187
|
1,185,000.00
|
1,152,956
|
|
South Kerry Development Partnership Ltd
|
12,370,667
|
1,800,000.00
|
1,035,105
|
|
South West Mayo Development Co. Ltd
|
12,150,007
|
1,815,000.00
|
1,132,390
|
|
Waterford LEADER Partnership Ltd
|
10,558,519
|
1,310,000.00
|
984,062
|
|
West Cork Development Partnership
|
14,601,149
|
1,700,000.00
|
1,341,491
|
|
West Limerick Resources
|
9,997,751
|
1,410,000.00
|
931,798
|
|
Westmeath Community Development
|
10,987,060
|
925,000.00
|
1,024,002
|
|
Wexford Local Development
|
12,515,565
|
1,340,000.00
|
1,166,459
|
|
Co. Wicklow Partnership
|
11,135,560
|
1,190,000.00
|
1,007,509
|
|
Total
|
399,999,998.00
|
45,380,000.00
|
36,879,457
|
