Reports that Leader funding is to be recalled from local development programmes and allocated elsewhere are completely without foundation, according to Beverley Flynn, TD.
Deputy Flynn was speaking after concerns were raised by reports that the Department of Rural, Community, and Gaeltacht Affairs was considering recalling the allocation to Leader companies and transferring the fund to other programmes.
“On being alerted to this report, I immediately raised the matter with Minister Pat Carey and sought clarification,” she said. “The Minister assured me that there was no question of Leader funding being interfered with in any way.
“He emphasised his confidence in the capacity of the local action groups to implement the Leader programme and to see that the funds allocated were applied to rural Ireland where they were most needed, and where they had always been intended for,” she said.
Minister Carey told Deputy Flynn he was convinced that LAGs would achieve the expenditure targets set out in the programme, and pledged the full support of his Department to ensure that was achieved.
Deputy Flynn paid tribute to the South West Mayo Leader Company and to North East Mayo Leader, both of which were methodically working on the delivery in full of the Leader programme.
