Austin Deasy
Ceist:31 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry if he will amend the rules, in consultation with the EU, in order that mobile equipment can be included for funding under the Leader Programme. [17187/96]
Written Answers. - Leader Programme.
Motor vehicles and mobile equipment are excluded for funding under the Leader programme on the basis that such investments are not normally eligible for aid under publicly funded schemes, have multi-purpose uses which may not be related to the project being aided, and are easily disposed of outside of the project and the area in which aid may be offered.
For these reasons I do not propose to amend the rules under which Leader groups operate to allow motor vehicles or mobile equipment to be grant-aided. However, specialised equipment linked to the development of a wider project such as the provision of specialised harvesting equipment and grass-cutting equipment for a pitch and putt course may qualify for aid and my Department is prepared to examine requests for funding from Leader groups on a case by case basis.