Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 21 February 2018
68. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the funding allocated for the Leader programme in 2017; the expenditure at the end of 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8704/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraLEADER is a multi-annual programme for the period 2014-2020 which has a total budget of €250 million over the programming period. LEADER is administered by Local Action Groups (LAGs) which deliver funding in accordance with Local Development Strategies that have been agreed for each LAG area.
€220 million of the available funding has already been allocated to the 28 LEADER sub-regional areas throughout the country. The remaining €30 million is available for schemes which will be delivered at a national level.
The allocation for each sub-regional area is provided for the duration of the programme rather than on an annual basis. This provides greater flexibility to the LAGs in managing their resources.
The original allocation for the LEADER programme in 2017 was €40 million, as reflected in the Vote for the then Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs. Of this €40 million allocation, €17.4 million was transferred within my Department's budget to support a new Local Improvement Scheme to improve non-public roads, while €3.8 million was transferred to increase expenditure on developing Libraries in local communities.
The overall expenditure incurred under the 2014-2020 LEADER Programme at the 31 December 2017 was €14,635,956.85. The figure includes expenditure on Preparatory Support, Administration (which includes Animation), and Project expenditure.
A total of €40 million has been provided in the 2018 Estimates to support the LEADER programme; reflecting voted provision of €35m supplemented by capital carryover of €5m.
I am satisfied this level of budgetary provision is in line with anticipated activity under the LEADER Programme in 2018. My Department will be keeping this under review.
