€425m rural development funds will be spent by 2013, Carey insists

LOCAL groups have been assured by Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs Minister Pat Carey that he is determined every cent of the €425 million rural development funding allocated to Ireland would be spent by the time the programme ends in 2013.

He met with groups from all over Ireland at the Tipperary Institute in Thurles to discuss the operation and potential of the programme and how best to deliver on the funding.

It is estimated the Leader Programme could bring 12,000 jobs to rural Ireland.