I propose to take Questions Nos. 145 and 146 together.
The LEADER element of the Rural Development Programme 2014-2020 (RDP) will be delivered using a Community Led Local Development approach as required under EU Regulations governing the implementation of the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development. Ireland is proposing to support the implementation of the LEADER elements of the RDP at local level through a more integrated and coherent approach to local development that will involve community and local government organisations in leadership roles, guiding a more integrated and coordinated delivery of all funding, both European and National, at a local level.
I expect that a draft Rural Development Programme will be submitted by the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine, the Managing Authority for the Programme, to the European Commission for consideration and approval in the coming weeks.
Following this, my Department intends to conduct a two-stage process to select Local Development Strategies providing the opportunity to develop partnerships with full and comprehensive consultation thus maintaining the integrity of a Community Led Local Development approach.
My Department will issue an open call inviting all entities that meet the eligibility criteria to be considered as Local Action Groups (LAGs) to express an interest in being selected to develop Local Development Strategies (LDS) for the 2014-2020 Programme. The eligibility criteria will be drawn up in such a way to ensure that the best LAGs possible are selected to develop strategies including conformity with EU requirements in terms of LAG makeup, capacity to undertake the work and financial capacity to deliver the programme.
It is intended to select a single strategy in each area and therefore in cases where more than one strategy is submitted the groups involved will be asked to come together in partnership to jointly prepare and agree a single strategy in order to ensure that the most comprehensive and coherent strategies come forward for consideration and approval by my Department.
I have assured the current Local Development Companies on numerous occasions that they will be key partners in the proposed new architecture and I anticipate that they will participate fully in the upcoming Local Development Strategy selection process.
