West Cork Development Partnership are contracted on behalf of my Department in relation to the implementation of the LEADER elements of the Rural Development Programme 2007-2013. On 20 May 2013, WCDP were awarded a revised allocation of RDP funding of €12,645,076.00 which includes €245,697 ring-fenced for Gaeltacht areas.
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 is reviewing all commitments and expenditure levels to ensure, in so far as is possible, that all available Programme funding is committed by end December 2013. Allocations will again be revised before the end of the year if there is funding available for re-distribution.
