THE 36 local action groups which will operate the Leader rural development programme to 2013 were yesterday told how much they will each receive from the €425.4 million allocation.
This will be spent in rural areas on establishing businesses, tourism activity and basic services for rural people. It will also help fund village renewal, upgrading of rural heritage and training and information programmes which are approved by the local development boards.
Minister for Rural Affairs Éamon Ó Cuív said the EU contributed €234 million, with the exchequer contribution coming in at €191 million.
He added that the Government had given its continuing commitment to the funding. Just over €25 million will be held back for national projects.
"Under this rural development programme, I am expecting that each local action group will implement a clear plan with particular focus on the above," he said.
"In the last five years . . . numbers of visitors coming to Ireland for rural recreation more than doubled. I believe that we can double this again by 2013," he predicted.
He said significant changes had been made to the programme which would see commercial support aid rise to 50 per cent, community projects would get 75 per cent, and maximum grant levels had been raised to €200,000.
He said flagship community, non-commercial projects could now receive up to €500,000 in grant aid from the companies.
The allocations were: Avondhu/Blackwater, €9 million; Ballyhoura development, €11.6 million; Carlow Co Partnership, €8.8 million; Cavan/Monaghan Partnership; €12 million; Comhar na nOileán Teo, €4.6 million; Clare local development, €14 million; Donegal local development, €12.8 million; Forum Connemara, €9.6 million; Fingal Leader €7.7 million; Galway rural development, €15.2 million; Inishowen development, €8.2 million; IRD Duhallow,€10.3 million; Cill Dara ar Aghaidh Teo, €12.2 million; Co Kilkenny Leader, €11.5 million; Laois Community and Enterprise development, €10.9m; Leitrim integrated development, €10.8 million; Longford community resource, €8.7 million; Louth Leader, €8.8 million; Mayo northeast Leader, €10.7 million; Meath Partnership, €12.7 million; Meitheal Forbartha na Gaeltachta Teo, €17.2 million; north and east Kerry Leader, €10.5 million; north Tipperary Leader, €9.7 million; Offaly integrated local development, €11.5 million; Roscommon integrated development, €12.8 million; Co Sligo Leader, €10.8 million; southeast Cork area, €10.6 million; south Tipperary local development, €11.1 million; south Kerry development, €12.3 million; southwest Mayo development, €12.1 million; Waterford Leader, €10.5m; west Cork development, €14.6 million; west Limerick resources, €9.9 million; Westmeath community development, €10.9 million; Wexford local development, €12.5 million and Co Wicklow Partnership, €1 million