Call for distribution of Leader funds to remain independent

Distribution of Leader funds has to remain independent of politics, says Labour TD Ann Phelan.

Until now, political parties have had no input into the distribution of Leader funds, the Carlow and Kilkenny TD told attendees at a conference in Cork hosted by Irish Local Development Network (ILDN), the nationwide umbrella body for Leader groups.

The ILDN conference was organised as a response to Environment Minister Phil Hogan’s alignment proposal to create socio-ecomomic councils (SECs), which would bring core Leader functions, including control of finances, under the wings of county managers in local authorities nationwide.