Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 5 Dec 2000

Vol. 527 No. 3

Written Answers. - Leader Programmes.

Jimmy Deenihan

Ceist:

55 Mr. Deenihan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development when funding under Leader+ and the national leader programme will be made available for Leader companies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28246/00]

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

Leader type activity in the period to 2006 will be delivered through the European Union Leader+ programme, together with a mainstream national rural development programme. Funding of over £117 million has been allocated to these two programmes.

My Department has lodged the operational programme for Leader+ with the European Commission for assessment and approval. Also, in accordance with the terms of the Good Friday Agreement, the Leader+ programme has been presented to the special North-South EU programmes body for its endorsement in tandem with the Northern Ireland Leader programme.

A period of five months is provided for to facilitate the Commission's consideration of the programme prior to deciding on approval. I am pushing for early assessment of the programme with the expectation that the Commission will issue its approval early in the new year.

The national mainstream rural development programme is a component of the regional operational programmes funded under the National Development Plan 2000-2006. Given their complementarity, the European Commission has indicated that the approval process for the mainstream programme and the Leader+ programme should take place simultaneously.

My Department has received comprehensive business plans from rural development groups seeking appointment to deliver the programmes and the selection process is under way at present. An independent consultant is being commissioned to examine the proposals in the business plans and will make recommendations on selection. My Department will consider the recommendations and report to Government who will make the final decisions on groups. The determination of delivery groups and their financial allocations will be put in place as quickly as is feasible following receipt of the Commission's approval for the programmes.