A resolution has been achieved and the reinstatement of the Rural Development Programme (RDP ) in northeast Mayo will come on stream in the near future, it has been revealed. Fine Gael TD John O’Mahony told the Mayo Advertiser yesterday afternoon that Minister Phil Hogan has given the go ahead following the conclusion of an investigation into governance issues in the Mayo North East LEADER Partnership (MNELP ) last year.
Dep O’Mahony said: “I’d like to welcome the news, it’s been a long process but we needed to make sure that due process was seen to. It is good news for groups in the north east of Mayo who rely on funding from this source and it will be up and running again very soon.”
Dep O’Mahony informed the Mayo Advertiser that the investigation has been completed and a final report has been provided to the Department of Agriculture, Food, and the Marine as managing authority for the RDP. That Department has subsequently reported the findings to the European Commission and the external accreditation auditors Deloitte, and an action plan has now been agreed with the Department of Agriculture, Food, and the Marine. The Department of the Environment, Community, and Local Government has also agreed a series of actions to be taken by Mayo North East LEADER Partnership Company. These actions are at an advanced stage of implementation. Accordingly the Minister expects to be in contact with Mayo North LEADER Partnership shortly in regard to resumption of project approvals.
