Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 30 April 2013
414. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the amounts of funding available to heritage projects under the rural development, Leader programme 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13136/13]
View answerThe main aims of Axes 3 & 4 (LEADER) of the Rural Development Programme (RDP) are to support the diversification of the rural economy and improve the quality of life in rural areas. Through the RDP measure Conservation and Upgrading of the Rural Heritage , funding is provided to support an integrated approach to the protection of the local heritage through a suite of related preservation actions, complemented by a range of initiatives designed to develop the sustainable economic contribution of the natural heritage. To date this measure has registered almost €13 million euro in expenditure with a further €8.9 million in contractual commitments yet to be paid on completion of the work, a total of €21.6 million.
The recent completion of a full review of project approvals under Axis 3 & 4 (LEADER) of the RDP has facilitated the immediate issuing of contracts for approximately €42 million worth of projects that have all the necessary approvals in place. This includes just over €2.5 million under the Conservation and Upgrading of the Rural Heritage measure which is in addition to the €21.6 million referred to above. The Local Development Companies (LDCs) contracted to deliver the LEADER elements of the RDP have been allowed two weeks, until 8 May, to let my Department know whether all of the projects within this €42 million are ready to proceed. Once this exercise is complete my Department will then be in a position to establish the remaining balance of funding in the RDP and will notify each LDC of their allocation to the end of the Programme. Following this my Department will request a revised financial plan from each LDC which will detail how their overall allocation is apportioned under the various RDP measures. The national allocation per measure will be based on these returns.
