Rural development funding review ‘delays projects and threatens jobs’

Rural development funding of €120m is not reaching approved projects, says South East Cork Area Development chief executive Ryan Howard.

SECAD is one of many rural groups informed by the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government that transfer of its funding has been suspended pending review.

Mr Howard said the review, which was to take one or two weeks, is now ongoing over three months. More than €60m worth of projects have been approved by Leader companies; most projects are linked to enterprise stimulation, start-up funding and job creation schemes.