Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 29 Feb 2000

Vol. 515 No. 3

Written Answers. - Leader Programmes.

John Perry

Ceist:

133 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development if he will put in place a scheme which will ensure that there is a seamless transition of the Leader II programme into the new national rural development programme in view of the delays which have occurred to date in reaching some form of agreement in respect of the new round of funding for Leader and the national development programme as contained in the national development plan; if he will also ensure that no damage is done to the Leader structures already put in place and the successes which have been achieved to date with the maintenance of the highly experienced corps of staff which they employ; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5911/00]

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

The European Commission is currently finalising the draft guidelines on Leader+ and incorporating the observations of the European Parliament which have been accepted by the member states.

It is expected that the commission will shortly issue the approved guidelines and based on the member states will 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, over a period of some months, will examine these programmes to ensure that the required standard for approval is evident.

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 national development plan, 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 sustained 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.