Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 January 2022
710. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if additional funding will be provided for the LEADER food initiative in County Kerry to fund a number of projects at locations (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3432/22]
View answerThe LEADER Food Initiative is administered at local level by Local Action Groups (LAGs) with overall funding allocated at a national level by my Department. Project applications are in the first instance considered at local level, with subsequent final project approval signed off by my Department on a first come first served basis. As with all funding programmes, there is a finite budget available for allocation under this measure.
The LAGs are aware of all relevant scheme conditions and have been kept up to date at regular intervals by my Department with regard to the availability of funding.
With regard to the projects referred to by the Deputy, my Department understands that a number of applications were being considered by the LAG but no project applications were awaiting the final approval of the Department at the time the LEADER Food Initiative funding budget was exhausted in December 2021.
During 2022, my Department will keep the delivery and drawdown of funding awarded under the LEADER Food Initiative under review and should any unutilised funding become available as a result of this review consideration will be given to running a new national funding call later in the year.
