As the Deputy will be aware, Ireland is conducting a two stage process for the selection of Local Development Strategies to support the delivery of the LEADER elements of the Rural Development Programme 2014-2020. Stage one is complete but stage two is still on-going and therefore no entity has been selected to deliver LEADER in any area. Under stage one of the selection process, any entity who wished to be considered as a Local Action Group was invited to submit an expression of interest (EOI). For the purposes of the new programme, there are 28 sub-regional areas in Ireland and 45 separate expressions of interest were received. A single expression of interest was received in 19 of the 28 areas and at least two expressions of interest were received in the remaining nine areas. Following a number of facilitated meetings the number of areas with multiple EOIs has reduced to six and the current position is set out in the following table.
All applicants have been given a minimum of 6 months for the preparation of Local Development Strategies. I expect that not all areas will require the full 6 months and I am hopeful that many areas will have their strategies submitted, assessed and approved and be in a position to begin implementing their strategies by Autumn 2015.
In areas where a single strategy is submitted, an Independent Evaluation Committee will review and evaluate these strategies with a view to ensuring that they meet the required standard.
In areas where entities do not come to an agreement and multiple strategies are submitted, it will be a matter for the Independent Evaluation Committee to make a decision on which Local Development Strategy best meets the needs of the community. In this situation, the Evaluation Committee will not make a decision on the successful strategy until all strategies for that sub-regional area have been submitted for assessment.
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Sub- Regional Area
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Expression of Interest
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Carlow
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Carlow LCDC
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Cavan
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Cavan Leader (LCDC)
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Clare
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Clare LCDC
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Clare Local Development Company
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North Cork
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North Cork LCDC
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South Cork
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South Cork LCDC
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South & East Cork Area Development Partnership Ltd
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West Cork Development Partnership (Macroom Area)*
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West Cork
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West Cork LCDC
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|
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West Cork Development Partnership*
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Donegal
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Donegal LCDC
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Dublin
|
Dublin Rural LAG
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Galway
|
Galway LCDC
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FORUM Connemara Ltd
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Kerry
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Kerry LCDC
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Kildare
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County Kildare Local Action Group (Kildare LCDC/County Kildare LEADER Partnership)
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Kilkenny
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Kilkenny LCDC
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Kilkenny LEADER Partnership
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Laois
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Laois LCDC
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Leitrim
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Leitrim LCDC
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Limerick
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Limerick LCDC
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Longford
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Longford LCDC in partnership with Longford Community Resources
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Louth
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Louth LCDC
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Mayo
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Mayo LCDC
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Moy Valley Resources
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IRD Kiltimagh
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Meath
|
Meath LCDC
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Monaghan
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Monaghan LCDC
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Offaly
|
Offaly LCDC
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Roscommon
|
Roscommon LCDC
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Sligo
|
Sligo LCDC
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Tipperary
|
Tipperary LCDC
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Waterford
|
Waterford LCDC
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Westmeath
|
Westmeath LCDC
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Wexford
|
Wexford LCDC
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Wicklow
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County Wicklow LCDC/County Wicklow Partnership
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*West Cork Development Partnership has been requested to decide which area it wishes to develop an LDS for.
