Vol. 504 No. 2
149 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the names and areas of operation of the Leader II companies; when the current programmes will conclude; when the next Leader programme will commence; if he will give details in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11506/99]
The names and operational areas of the groups approved under Leader II are set out in the table below. The current programme will conclude on 30 June 2000.
Leader is an EU Community Initiative and, as part of the Agenda 2000 proposals, the European Commission is committed to introducing a further Community Initiative on Rural Development as a successor to Leader II. In March, the European Commission circulated, for comment, preliminary proposals for three Community Initiatives, including Leader, under the next round of Structural Funds. The Commission has invited comments on the proposals from relevant interests throughout the Community to be submitted by 12 May 1999 and has indicated that the guidelines for the new initiatives could be formally approved before the end of 1999 to allow new programmes to be presented by member states and approved early in the year 2000.
Leader II; Approved Area-Based Groups
Group Operational Areas
Arigna Catchment Area Community Company Limited, part of counties Sligo, Leitrim and Roscommon
Ballyhoura Development Limited, part of counties Limerick and Cork
Barrow-Nore-Suir Rural Development Limited. Counties Carlow, Kilkenny and part County Tipperary
Blackwater Region Leader Company Limited. Blackwater Region, Mallow and hinterland County Cork
Cavan-Monaghan Rural Development Co-op Society Limited. Counties Cavan and Monaghan
|
Group |
Sector |
|
Irish Country Holidays |
Rural tourism |
|
Irish Farm Holidays |
Rural Tourism |
|
Muintir na Tíre |
Community Development; pilot programme operating in part counties Cork, Kerry and Westmeath. |
