Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 13 November 2013
119. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide additional funding, from unspent Leader funding, to North and East Kerry Development Board to enable the board to urgently provide the necessary grant aid and for a proposed facility (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48534/13]
View answerNorth and East Kerry Leader Partnership are contracted on behalf of my Department in relation to the implementation of the LEADER elements of the Rural Development Programme 2007-2013.
During 2011, the European Commission approved a change in the maximum co-funding rate from 55% to 85% in relation to LEADER. This had the effect of reducing the available funding under the Programme from €427 million to an estimated €370 million.
It was therefore necessary to carry out a comprehensive review of the level of commitments and expenditure across the Programme in order to apportion the remaining funds among the Local Development Companies (LDCs), taking into account the level of commitments already entered into. The redistribution of funding was conducted in as fair and equitable a manner as was possible.
I am committed to the continued monitoring of this situation and my Department will review all commitments and expenditure levels later this month to ensure, in so far as is possible, that all available Programme funding is committed by end December 2013. Allocations will again be revised if there is funding available for re-distribution.
