Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 5 November 2013
680. Deputy Gerald Nash asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the position regarding an appeal against a decision not to grant final approval for a Leader funding application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cavan; when a decision will be made on the appeal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46360/13]
View answerFollowing agreement with the European Commission, Ireland has adopted a definition of rural areas for the purpose of LEADER funding as all of the country other than the urban areas defined as hubs and gateways in the National Spatial Strategy. The use of this definition, rather than a population density calculation, ensured that LEADER funding would available to a greater proportion of Ireland’s rural areas than would otherwise have been the case.
For the purposes of implementing the LEADER elements of the Rural Development Programme (RDP) 2007-2013, all areas within the following are excluded:
- The City Council boundaries of Dublin, Cork, Galway, Waterford and Limerick
- The Borough Council boundaries of Kilkenny, Sligo and Wexford
- The Town Council boundaries of Athlone, Ballina, Castlebar, Cavan, Dundalk, Ennis, Killarney, Letterkenny, Mallow, Monaghan, Mullingar, Tralee, Tuam and Tullamore.
The project in question is situated within the Town Council boundary of Cavan town and cannot therefore be approved. My Department’s decision in relation to this appeal was notified to Cavan Monaghan LEADER Partnership on 10 October 2013.
