Leader Programmes

Tuesday, 26 April 2016

Questions (452)

Declan Breathnach

Question:

452. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government when Leader funding will be announced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8467/16]

View answer

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government (Deputy Ann Phelan)

I expect the first LEADER contracts to issue to local action groups this week. The remainder will issue on a rolling basis in the coming weeks as LEADER strategies are evaluated and selected by the Independent Selection Committee. Funding will commence under the programme as contracts are signed with the respective local action groups.

At this stage, 32 strategies have been received from the 28 designated LEADER areas, of which 21 have been evaluated and 15 have reached the standard necessary to allow discussions on contracts and implementation arrangements to proceed. The remaining 11 strategies will be evaluated by the Selection Committee in two tranches in April and May, while work will also continue in the coming weeks with the six local action groups whose strategies have not reached the required standard to date.