Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 30 Nov 1999

Vol. 511 No. 6

Written Answers. - Leader Programmes.

Willie Penrose

Ceist:

210 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the future of the Leader programme as set out under the national development plan; the plans, if any, the Government has put in place to enable Leader companies to retain their staff during the time which will occur between the end of the Leader II programme and the commencement of the new programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25206/99]

Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development (Mr. Walsh)

Under the national development plan, funding of the order of £110 million will be available to support Leader-type activity in the period 2000-2006. Some £35.4 million of this is to be provided by the EU in respect of the Leader+ programme. The balance will come from the National Exchequer and will comprise national co-funding for Leader+ as well as support for a mainstream Leader type measure. Total funding for the Leader II programme amounted to some £98 million.

Following consultation, member states have now agreed the European Commission's guidelines document on Leader+ and the Commission intends to issue its finalised guidelines for the programme next month. Member states will then have to draw up operational programmes for Leader+. When completed, Ireland's operational programme will be forwarded to the Commission for approval with a view to commencement of the Leader+ programme as soon as possible. Pending this, I am not in a position to indicate the basis on which groups may be approved for funding.