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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 21 Oct 2003

Vol. 572 No. 6

Written Answers. - Leader Programmes.

Seymour Crawford

Ceist:

121 Mr. Crawford asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the amount of Government funds which have been paid into Leader programmes in the BMW area in the past three years and the amount which has been paid into Leader groups in the rest of the country; if he has satisfied himself that the BMW region is getting the recognition it was promised and deserves; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23928/03]

In July 2001 the Government, following an independent assessment of the applications, selected 35 local action groups and three collective bodies to deliver the Leader+ programme and the national rural development programme. All local action groups delivering the programmes in the period 2000-06 were awarded a specific allocation for the duration of the programmes. All groups were initially awarded an advance of 10% of their total allocation. Groups must submit monthly financial returns to the Department outlining their monthly expenditure. Further advances may be requested by individual groups once they have spent at least 50% of funds previously advanced to them. If the Department is satisfied with their returns and with the day-to-day delivery of the programmes they are delivering, then the advance will be authorised.

Under the current programmes a total of €63,233,000 has been allocated to the BMW region, while €74,237,000 has been allocated to the south and east region. In percentage terms, the BMW region has been allocated 46% of the total funds, while 54% has been allocated to the south and east region. I am satisfied that both regions are getting an appropriate share of the overall funding available taking into account the relative size of population in each area. I am confident that all funding allocated will be drawn down by the groups.

Question No. 122 answered with Question No. 97.

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