My Department continues to monitor the situation with regard to the allocation and drawdown of funding under the LEADER elements of the Rural Development Programme 2007-2013 (RDP). I advised all Local Development Companies (LDCs) of their revised Programme allocations in May 2013 and LDCs were given until 31 August to allocate any remaining available funding to ensure that all funding is allocated before the end of 2013.
Currently there is approximately €27m in potential commitments with my Department for eligibility assessment and I envisage that this process will be complete by the end of October 2013. Until the eligibility of these projects is verified I cannot confirm what, if any, funding will be available for reallocation.