Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 November 2013
469. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the amount of money to be reallocated for Leader projects; the way it will be allocated; and when will it be announced. [50462/13]
View answer484. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the value of moneys decommitted from Leader projects not proceeding or completed under budget since 31 August 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50702/13]
View answer485. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the value of Leader funds that are available for redistribution arising from findings of non-compliance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50703/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 469, 484 and 485 together.
The overall value of the LEADER elements of the current Rural Development Programme is €370m and of that up to 20% can be spent on administration costs leaving approximately €296m available for projects and animation activities. In May 2013 Local Development Companies (LDCs) were advised that all available project funding under the RDP should be allocated to eligible projects by 31 August. This was to include funding that became available through the decommitment of funding to projects that were not going to proceed or that were deemed ineligible. Of the €296m that is available, €285m has been committed with a further €9.5m worth of projects still under assessment and projects to the value of €2m are under appeal.
My Department is keeping the funding position under constant review. I expect that there will be a small amount of uncommitted LEADER Programme funding available for re-distribution to LDCs before year end; I will review the options available for distributing these funds and make allocations in the coming weeks.
