Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 15 May 2012
343 Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government when he hopes to appoint a body to administer the Leader funding in areas such as the Gaeltacht of Chorca Dhuibne; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23737/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraMeitheal Forbartha na Gaeltachta (MFG), the group contracted by my Department to deliver Axes 3 and 4 (LEADER) of the Rural Development Programme (RDP) in Gaeltacht Areas, went into liquidation on 7 September 2011. Progress, in the context of the legal "winding up" process, is ongoing and all relevant RDP (LEADER) project files have been released by the liquidator and are now in the possession of my Department.
The process of identifying those promoters whose projects are at an advanced stage of development and are most likely to be ready to make a claim for payment is underway and an interim system, in cooperation with Local Development Companies contiguous to Gaeltacht areas, is in place to facilitate payment of these projects in the short term. Many of these files have now been sent to the relevant Local Development Companies who will be in touch directly with the promoter to arrange payment in the very near future.
In the context of the delivery of Axes 3 and 4 (LEADER) of the Rural Development Programme in Gaeltacht areas in the longer term including Chorca Dhuibne, my Department is currently examining the submissions made as part of an overall process, commenced in March 2012, seeking expressions of interest from established Local Development Companies to deliver the LEADER elements of the RDP in MFG areas for the remainder of the Programming period. Some further work has to be done to finalise this process; however I understand that it will be completed for most areas very shortly.
