Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 May 2014
548. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government when community groups will be able to apply for the new Leader programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22731/14]
View answerPreparations for Ireland’s Rural Development Programme 2014-2020 (RDP) have begun and while these preparations are primarily the responsibility of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM), my Department will be responsible for the LEADER elements of the Programme. It is envisaged that Ireland will submit a draft Programme to the European Commission for approval by the end of June.
My Department intends to begin the process of selecting Local Development Strategies for implementation in the second half of 2014. It is envisaged that that process will take at least six months and possibly up to a year to complete. Following selection of the Local Development Strategies, it is intended that the new Programme will commence in 2015.
