I propose to take Questions Nos. 1581 to 1587, inclusive, together.
The Government has, through its local government reform process as outlined in Putting People First, initiated a process at local level to ensure that local development works more effectively to support the development of local communities in a co-ordinated and sustainable way. The Leader elements of the Rural Development Programme form an important part of this process for rural communities. Following a comprehensive consultation and needs analysis process a draft Rural Development Programme for Ireland for the period 2014 – 2020, which included an outline of the Leader element, was submitted to the European Commission in July 2014. An iterative process involving the authorities in Ireland and the European Commission is now under way and the draft programme will be finalised taking account of the outcome of that engagement.
Separately, in the context of a further national consultation process, I am aware that questions have been raised regarding a number of issues, including the definition of sub-regional areas for Leader purposes, and in this context I am currently considering a number of options. I am anxious that the implementation of the Leader elements of the Rural Development Programme reflects a community led approach in so far as is possible and in order to ensure this, each sub-regional area will be responsible for determining its own needs and outlining how it proposes to address those needs in its Local Development Strategy. This approach will also apply to those areas that contain Gaeltacht and island communities and I encourage both of these communities to ensure that they engage fully with the Local Development Strategy development processes for their respective areas to ensure that their concerns are fully addressed.
I do not propose to be overly prescriptive on what should be contained in any given Local Development Strategy as I believe that this is contrary to the ethos of a community led local development approach. In this context it will be largely down to Local Action Groups to outline, in their strategies, how they propose to administer and manage the funding, including the locations of their operations, within the framework outlined in the selection process.
My Department is also considering all relevant options in relation to the financial management of the Leader elements of the Rural Development Programme with a view to ensuring that the system implemented is fair, effective and efficient. The definitive outline of the Leader element is yet to be finalised and the maximum levels of funding, eligibility criteria and rates of aid for projects to be funded have yet to be decided. A detailed set of operating rules and procedures will be prepared once the Programme has been agreed and approved by the European Commission.
It is important that the necessary time is taken to ensure that the systems that are established to deliver the Leader elements of the RDP are robust, inclusive and ensure that all of the funding available at a local level is maximised in support of the sustainable development of rural communities all over Ireland. Full clarity regarding the detail of the implementation systems being put in place will be made available as soon as possible.