Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 July 2018
2407. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the funding allocated for the Leader programme in 2018; the expenditure level to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34878/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraA total of €40 million has been provided in my Department's Vote for the LEADER Programme in 2018. This funding includes voted provision of €35 million, and €5 million by way of carry-over of unspent capital funding from 2017.
As of 20th July 2018, the total amount of LEADER funding which has expended since the commencement of the 2014-2020 Programme is €22,809,582, of which €8,173,625 has been spent in 2018. The total costs include expenditure incurred by the Local Action Groups (LAGs) which administer the programme to develop their Local Development Strategies, the administration costs of the LAGs, the costs of their engagement with communities to generate projects, and expenditure on projects themselves.
There has been a significant increase in project approvals by the LAGs in the last twelve months and more than 1,100 projects with a grant value of €35.7 million have now been approved under the programme since it commenced. A further 300 projects with a grant value of €19.6 million are within the approvals process. Expenditure on the LEADER programme will increase substantially as these projects are delivered and payments are drawn down.
My Department engages with the LAGs on a regular basis to assess the progress on projects and I will be carefully monitoring the level of spend on the programme over the coming months.
