Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 24 Apr 1997

Vol. 478 No. 3

Written Answers. - Leader Programme.

Joe Walsh

Ceist:

123 Mr. J. Walsh asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry when the reserve fund under the Leader programme will be allocated; the details of the allocation, including the relevant criteria; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11017/97]

Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry (Mr. Yates)

The total additional funding available for the implementation of Leader II in Ireland is £18.13 million comprising the additional allocation of £12.6 million, by the European Commission and the necessary matching national contribution of £5.44 million.

All approved Leader II groups have been invited to apply for a share of the additional funding.The basis for the distribution of the funding between the approved groups will include an assessment of the merits of the performance to date of each group in administering the Leader II programme, the quality of the applications, the needs of the groups' areas and the availability of other sources of funding in their areas. The additional funding will be confined to economic activity including job creation and maintenance.

I hope to submit proposals to Government for a decision on allocations to individual groups in the near future.