Vol. 419 No. 5
229 Mr. Finucane asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if he will outline the LEADER projects approved for funding; the projects for which contracts have been signed to date; the specific financial allocation which has been made for each project; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
As already announced, 16 Irish groups have been approved for funding under the LEADER programme, which is the EC's own initiative on rural development. Some £35 million is being provided for the groups — £21 million EC and £14 million Irish — between now and the end of 1993. The groups will be expected to raise a similar amount in matching funds, making a total invest ment of £70 million over the life of the programme.
The essence of LEADER is that while the group are being provided with global grants, the decisions on the investments to be undertaken rest entirely with the groups themselves. Investment in the following activities may be funded: technical support for rural development such as surveys and assessments; vocational training and assistance for recruitment; rural tourism; small firms, crafts and local services; development and marketing of local agricultural, forestry and fishery products and other activities which contribute to the development of the groups' areas.
The selected groups and their approved financial allocations are as follows:
|
Name |
Funding (IR£m) |
||
|
EC |
State |
Total |
|
|
Inishowen Community Development Group, Inishowen, County Donegal |
1.140 |
0.760 |
1.900 |
|
Meitheal Forbartha na Gaeltachta, Na Forbacha, Gaillimh |
0.990 |
0.660 |
1.650 |
|
Arigna Catchment Area Community Company, Drumshanbo, County Leitrim |
1.440 |
0.960 |
2.400 |
|
Cavan-Monaghan Rural Development Co-operative Society Lim- ited, Ballyhaise, County Cavan |
1.500 |
1.000 |
2.500 |
|
Western Rural Development Company, Tubbercurry, County Sligo |
1.500 |
1.000 |
2.500 |
|
Comhar Iorrais Teo, Belmullet, County Mayo |
0.360 |
0.240 |
0.600 |
|
South West Mayo Rural Development Group, Castlebar, County Mayo |
1.508 |
1.006 |
2.514 |
|
Rural Resource Development Limited, Shannon, County Clare |
1.740 |
1.160 |
2.900 |
|
CRESP South Kerry Action, Cahirciveen, County Kerry |
1.140 |
0.760 |
1.900 |
|
IRD Dunhallow/West Cork LEADER Limited, Cork |
1.920 |
1.280 |
3.200 |
|
Ballyhoura Failte Society Limited, Kilfinane, County Limerick |
0.900 |
0.600 |
1.500 |
|
Tipperary Enterprise, Clonmel, County Tipperary |
1.500 |
1.000 |
2.500 |
|
Barrow-Nore-Suir Rural Development Limited, Kilkenny |
1.320 |
0.880 |
2.200 |
|
Wexford Organisation for Rural Development Limited, New Ross, County Wexford |
1.201 |
0.801 |
2.002 |
|
Wicklow Rural Enterprises Limited, Baltinglass, County Wicklow |
1.204 |
0.802 |
2.006 |
|
Offaly County Development Team, Tullamore, County Offaly |
1.440 |
0.960 |
2.400 |
|
Totals |
20.803 |
13.869 |
34.672 |
