IFA Rural Development Chairman Tom Turley said that the Leader Programme will collapse unless the bureaucracy and red tape is removed and Leader companies are given more flexibility in supporting Rural Development projects.

 

Speaking at a Forum meeting in Tullamore which included Farmer Representatives on the Local Development companies, Department officials and Teagasc throughout the country, Mr. Turley said that the bureaucracy in the programme is leading to many projects not being pursued. In some cases, the administrative costs associated with individual projects are greater than the grant given out.

 

Mr. Turley said the Minister for Community, Equality and the Gaeltacht Pat Carey’s assertion that all of the €425m available to the 7-year programme will be spent does not stand up. With two and a half years of the programme completed only 6.5% of the funds available have been spent.

 

Continuing, Mr. Turley also questioned whether the administration of Leader is suffering from the dead hand of Government. It is unfair on project promoters and local Leader companies to be landed with high administrative costs while in fear of Department Inspectors turning down projects after the investment is made. Leader Projects should not be treated like big industrial projects. Application forms should be simplified in a similar way to farm schemes particularly for small-scale projects.

 

The IFA Rural Development Chairman said the admission by Department officials that a penalty could arise across all other Rural Development measures if the Leader money is not spent, is totally unacceptable. Farm schemes should not be penalised for the slowness in spending of Leader funds.

 

Concluding, Mr. Turley said the Leader must be allowed to work so that support to farmers and rural based companies leads to increased economic activity resulting in rural jobs which is so badly needed at this time.