I have been informed that the number of enterprises assisted to end 2007 under the LEADER Programmes 2000-2006 is approx. 5,120. I am not in a position to inform the Deputy, however, how many of these enterprises are still in operation or how many are likely to continue in operation in the coming years. The LEADER Programmes do not provide ongoing financial support to these enterprises, rather support is generally granted towards the capital costs associated with the start-up or expansion of such enterprises. The Deputy will be aware, however, that under Rural Development Programme Ireland 2007-2013 funding of €48m will be available under the Business Creation and Development measure of the Programme.
35 Local Action Groups and 3 collective bodies were selected, on the basis of a competitive process, to deliver the LEADER Programmes 2000-2006.
For the delivery of Axis 3 & 4 of the Rural Development Programme 2007–2013, using the LEADER approach, 36 Local Action Groups have been selected. Twelve of these are integrated LEADER/Partnership companies which operated under previous LEADER Programmes, while the others are newly integrated companies.