Groups criticise `inertia' on EU aid programme

Rural development is at risk, according to nine Connacht-based groups whose members are concerned about the future of their initiatives under the National Development Plan.

The groups have accused the Department of Agriculture of "inertia" on the issue, and have formed a deputation to meet the Minister of State with responsibility for rural development, Mr Noel Davern. The groups owe their origin to the EU LEADER 2 scheme, which ends this summer.

LEADER is part-funded by the EU as a Common Agricultural Policy reform measure, and has been recognised as one of the most successful initiatives in terms of rural revitalisation. It has energised communities and led to the creation of thousands of jobs, according to the Connacht group, who represent nine of some 37 LEADER groups nation-wide.

Under the National Development Plan, £55 million was earmarked to continue the good work when LEADER 2 winds up - pending the introduction of its successor, the proposed "LEADER-plus" programme from 2000 to 2006.

"However, much of the impetus is going to be lost if the Department of Agriculture doesn't make a decision on the National Development Plan funding," said Mr Paul Kirkpatrick of the South Mayo LEADER Company. South Mayo LEADER's own record is one that Mr Kirkpatrick is proud of. A total of £2.5 million was allocated to the area under the scheme from 1995, and almost £2 million of that had been spent by last October. This grant-aid attracted another £1.25 million in private investment, with projects in south Mayo ranging from fisheries production in Clew Bay, computer training in Ballinrobe, establishment of a crΦche in Claremorris, the setting up of a tree nursery in Castlebar, and restoration of an "eviction" cottage in Belcarra.

The Celtic Furrow project in Ballintubber and the Tochar Valley community network, both of which were profiled by Aine Ryan in this column last year, received LEADER grants. Many community and private initiatives would never have got past the drawing board without the seed capital, according to the company. The Tochar Valley initiative is particularly interesting, in that it involves pooling the resources of communities straddling the Tochar Padraic ancient pilgrim walkway from Balla to Croagh Patrick.

Mr Kirkpatrick points out that other EU initiatives have been given a clear direction under the new budget - such as those involving enterprise and partnership companies under the Department of Tourism, Sport and Recreation and the Department of Public Enterprise. The current uncertainty means that development associations in areas such as Turlough and Cong cannot proceed with their own development plans, pending a direction on funding.

The Department of Agriculture told The Irish Times that the Minister recognised the importance of continuity in the delivery of LEADER and LEADER-type rural development programmes, and in this context "every effort" would be made to secure the earliest implementation of the two new LEADER measures due to be introduced under the European Commission's new rural development initiative.

The Department says that under the National Development Plan, funding of £110 million will be available to support LEADER-type activity in the period 2000 to 2006, and some £35.4 million of this is to be provided by the EU in respect of LEADER-plus. The balance will come from the Exchequer and will comprise national co-funding.

Pending EU clearance for LEADER-plus activity, it is "not possible to define the precise arrangements for delivery", the Department says.