Vol. 511 No. 6
179 Mrs. Owen asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the position of the Leader programme; if all areas currently included will continue to be assisted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24852/99]
Leader is the EU community initiative for rural development. European Commission guidelines on a new Leader initiative, termed Leader plus, have recently been agreed by member states. The Commission expects to finalise the details of the new programme next month.
Member states will then have to draw up operational programmes for Leader plus. When completed, Ireland's operational programme will be forwarded to the Commission for approval with a view to commencement of the Leader plus programme as soon as possible. Until the working parameters are defined, I am not in a position to comment on the areas in which the new programme will operate, or the basis on which groups might be approved for funding.
Under the national development plan, funding of the order of £110 million will be available to support Leader type activity in the period 2000-06. Some £35.4 million of this is to be provided by the EU in respect of the Leader plus programme. The balance will come from the national Exchequer and will comprise national co-funding for Leader plus as well as support for a mainstream Leader type measure. Total funding for the Leader II programme amounted to some £98 million.
