I propose to take Questions Nos. 250 to 252, inclusive, together.
Public Procurement Guidelines require that contracts awarded by any private entity, which are subsidised 50% or more by a public body, must be subject to public procurement and where the value exceeds certain thresholds,
www.etenders.gov.ie must be used. Projects subsidised less than 50% are not subject to full public procurement; however, the European Regulations governing the Leader elements of the Rural Development Programme require an assessment of the reasonableness of costs and accordingly some level of public procurement will be required, depending on the value of the contract.
My Department is currently developing the management systems and operating rules that will be required to ensure the most effective implementation of the 2014-2020 Programme. These will include determining eligible costs, rates of aid and maximum grant levels such as those described by the Deputy. Full details will be available before Local Development Strategies become operational in Autumn 2015.