Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 3 Nov 1992

Vol. 424 No. 8

Written Answers. - LEADER Programme Grant Allocations.

Enda Kenny

Ceist:

217 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the names of the companies, locations and enterprises involved in all allocations and grants made to date in 1992 under the pilot Leader programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Ivan Yates

Ceist:

218 Mr. Yates asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the current position in relation to the Leader programme nationally; the number of jobs that have been created; the money spent to date; and the number of jobs likely to be approved.

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mr. Walsh)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 217 and 218 together.

Under the EC LEADER programme, decisions on the award of grants to individual projects are a matter for the LEADER groups themselves.

The position in general terms is that £5.55 million has been advanced by my Department to the groups to date. The types of projects being aided by the groups include rural tourism, small and medium enterprises, crafts and the promotion and marketing of agricultural produce.

It is envisaged that investments under the LEADER Programme to the end of 1993 will generate a substantial number of jobs in rural areas. The extent of job creation will depend on the nature and success of the investments undertaken by the groups.