Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 5 October 2010
433 Deputy Frank Feighan asked the Minister for Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs if he will provide details of the proposed transfer of rural development funds from the Leader programme to the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Innovation and the Department of Social Protection; the financial or other impact this will have on partnerships and community development programmes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34904/10]
View answer435 Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs the details of the funding available under axis three and axis four of the rural development programme that he plans to transfer to other Departments; the Departments to which the funding will be transferred; the amount of funding to be transferred to each of these Departments in each of the years 2010 to 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34976/10]
View answer436 Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs, further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 427 and 428 of 26 January 2010, the details of the funding now available under each of these categories under axis three and axis four of the rural development programme following the decision to transfer some of the funding to other Departments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34977/10]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 433, 435 and 436 together.
I wish to inform the Deputies that the information included in the reply to the Questions of 26 January 2010 referred to regarding the funding available under Axes 3 and 4 of the Rural Development Programme 2007-13 (RDP) has not changed. The main objectives of the Programme are to improve the quality of life in rural areas and facilitate the diversification of the rural economy, and the individual measures under the Programme, including indicative allocations, are as follows):
Diversification into non-agricultural activities for farm families — €16.66m;
Support for business creation and development — €48.26m;
Encouragement of tourism activities — €45.4m;
Basic services for the economy and rural population — €49.61m;
Village renewal and development — €54.2m;
Conservation and upgrading of the rural heritage — €51.7m;
Training and information on adapted and new skills — €29.45m; and
Implementing co-operation projects — €10.7m.
I am pleased with the progress to date under the RDP, which continues to facilitate access to significant financial resources for rural communities since it started in 2009. This has resulted in the proliferation of innovative and sustainable development projects all over the country, which are providing invaluable support to rural communities in these difficult times, and there is no question of funds being diverted away from the RDP.
The RDP currently has registered project activity of €71 million, with almost €30 million at an advanced stage of development. Expenditure to date amounts to almost €45 million, which includes funding for a diverse range of projects from support for micro-enterprise in rural areas to the building and maintenance of community infrastructure, and the provision of training in a variety of disciplines for rural dwellers. I am confident that the activity funded under the RDP to date is contributing to the creation of the right conditions for the generation of sustainable, long-term job opportunities in rural areas.
My Department and I will be working closely with Minister Batt O'Keeffe and his Department in the coming months to promote increased co-operation between Local Action Groups and County Enterprise Boards in order to ensure that we maximise the impact of all of the funding available and fully support enterprise and job creation in rural areas. I can assure the Deputies that my Department will continue to work with rural communities through their Local Action Groups to explore all possible funding opportunities under the RDP.
