Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 24 Feb 2000

Vol. 515 No. 2

Written Answers. - Leader Programmes.

Andrew Boylan

Ceist:

114 Mr. Boylan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development when he will have in place a scheme, including appropriate funding, which will ensure that there is a seamless transition from the Leader II programme to Leader+ and on the new national rural development programme. [5713/00]

Andrew Boylan

Ceist:

115 Mr. Boylan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development his views on whether a new national rural development programme should be agreed and implemented immediately; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5714/00].

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

I propose to take Questions Nos. 114 and 115 together.

Following consultation with the member states, the European Commission is finalising the draft guidelines on Leader+, consequent on the recent receipt of the observations of the European Parliament. Further consultation is taking place with member states and this should open the way to early approval of the guidelines.

Based on these guidelines, member states will then draw up operational programmes for Leader+ for forwarding to the Commission for approval with a view to commencement of the Leader+ programme as soon as possible. The Commission will then have to consider the programme over a number of months, prior to approval.

Additionally, a Leader mainstream programme is being funded under the National Development plan. As with other measures provided for in the National Development Plan, approval by the European Commission is necessary to enable commencement of arrangements for the establishment of Leader mainstream activity.

Pending EU clearance for Leader+ activity and Leader mainstream activity under the NDP, it is not possible to define the precise arrangements for delivery. It is clear, however, that the Commission's intention is that funding for Leader+ will be confined to a limited number of rural areas and that the essential aim of the Leader+ measure will be to encourage the emergence and testing of new approaches to integrated and sustainable development.

In the determination of local groups for delivery of programmes, the report of the task force on the integration of local government and local development systems requires that attention be given to the avoidance of overlap between agencies including Leader groups and to explore mechanisms capable of combining rural development and rural partnership activities in rural disadvantaged areas specifically.

I recognise the importance of continuity in the delivery of Leader+ and Leader type rural development programmes. Every effort will be made to establish the earliest implementation of the two new Leader measures.

In this context, it may be possible to progress the mainstream LEADER measure which will apply nationwide at a more rapid rate then Leader+ will allow. I am examining this possibility. In the meantime, I have allocated funding to Comhar Leader na hEireanninter alia to ensure that existing groups are fully familiar with the administrative requirements in regard to mandatory financial reporting of the conclusion of Leader II projects.