Rural affairs: Increased funding for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs has been allocated for the Leader rural economy sub-programme and for the Western Development Commission.
The estimate for the department has increased by 4.5 per cent overall to €487,540,000.
Some €26 million has been provided for the Leader 2000-2006 programme for rural development.
The bulk of the money is provided for the payment of outstanding claims, and includes €6 million for new actions under the current programme.
A further €5 million has also been provided for the Leader rural economy sub-programme 2007-2013 for its initial phases.
The programme will be three times larger than the current one, and it is expected that it will be in operation in the spring or early summer of 2007.
There is also provision for a 13 per cent increase in current funding for the Western Development Commission, and a further €4 million is being invested in the Western Investment Fund.
Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs Éamon Ó Cuív said the Estimates showed the continued commitment of the Government to the development of rural affairs.
He highlighted the continuing commitment to the Rural Social Scheme, which would involve an expenditure of more than €43 million in 2007.
He welcomed the commitment of €20 million under the CLÁR programme for the development of areas that have sustained continuous population loss.