Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 February 2014
519. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if there will be a further redistribution of unspent funds which have been allocated by local development companies under the Leader programme in the near future; if he will prioritise those measures which are aimed at job creation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8188/14]
View answerIn December 2013 I announced an additional €4 million under the LEADER elements of the Rural Development Programme 2007-2013 (RDP). Funding of €1 million was targeted at the Gaeltacht areas which suffered a loss of funding when Meitheal Forbartha na Gaeltachta went into liquidation in 2011 and €3 million to the areas which experienced a reduction of greater than 15% in the revised allocation awarded in May 2013. The current programme is fully allocated and I anticipate commencement of the next programme in early 2015.
Preparations in respect of the design, content and implementation of the 2014 – 2020 RDP are currently under way and a number of stakeholder meetings and public consultations have already taken place. Those interested in contributing to the process can do so by making a written submission to rdp.@environ.ie.
