Meitheal Forbartha na Gaeltachta (MFG), the group contracted by my Department to deliver Axes 3 & 4 (LEADER) of the Rural Development Programme (RDP) in Irish Language Areas, went into liquidation on 7 September 2011. Progress, in the context of the legal “winding up” process, is currently ongoing.
Local Action Groups in contiguous geographical areas have been engaged to implement an interim system to facilitate grant payment to projects that were at an advanced stage of development. Many of these project files have now been sent to the relevant Local Action Groups, including the Donegal Local Development Company (DLDC), who are contacting the promoters directly to facilitate payment where appropriate. This also involves a full review of the project files by the Local Action Group. I understand that the process is now well underway to enable Local Action Groups to process eligible claims by project promoters for the payment of grants. My Department is in constant contact with all relevant Local Development Companies including Donegal to ensure that all issues that arise in the context of the resumption of the delivery of RDP funds to Gaeltacht areas are addressed and that the systems are working efficiently and effectively.
In the context of the delivery of Axes 3 & 4 (LEADER) of the RDP in Irish language areas for the remainder of the programming period, a long term delivery solution has been agreed with DLDC for the Gaeltacht areas of Donegal. DLDC is already working with communities on the ground to facilitate the continued delivery of RDP funds.
