Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 2 May 2018
158. 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; the funding allocated for and the expenditure to date in 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19253/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFunding for the LEADER Programme in my Department’s Vote provides for expenditure on project payments, administration costs of the Local Action Groups (LAGs) who deliver the programme, costs associated with their engagement with communities to generate projects, and LEADER operational costs incurred directly by my Department.
The original allocation for the LEADER programme in 2017 was €40 million, as reflected in the Vote for the former 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 for non-public roads. A further €3.8 million was transferred to increase expenditure on developing Libraries in local communities. The final overall expenditure from the LEADER subhead in 2017 was €14,420,728. This includes expenditure of approximately €109,000 in respect of the 2007-2013 LEADER programme.
A total of €40 million has been provided in my Department's 2018 Vote to support the LEADER programme, comprising a provision of €35 million in Subhead A6 of the Vote, supplemented by a carry over of unspent capital funds of €5 million from 2017. Overall expenditure from the LEADER subhead to date in 2018 is €4,595,668.
There has been a significant increase in the number of projects approved for LEADER funding by the Local Action Groups since the middle of 2017. To date, more than 900 projects with a value of over €27 million have been approved for LEADER funding by the LAGs. A further 320 projects requesting over €17 million in funding are at various stages in the approval process. This funding will be drawn down as projects start to incur expenditure and submit payment claims.
I anticipate that there will be a significant increase in project expenditure over the course of 2018 based on the progress which has been made by the LAGs in approving projects. My Department has also introduced a number of administrative improvements to the LEADER programme which will also assist LAGs and project promoters in their delivery of the programme.
