Ó Cuív revisions further delay LEADER scheme
The programme of rural funding for the 2007 to 2013 period didn’t get off the ground until late in 2008, delayed mainly by Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs Minister Éamon Ó Cuív’s revision of areas of coverage for local development companies. Now, the minister wants a single representative organisation for these companies, and rural development sources say this has further delayed rural development work.
The new organisation will supersede Comhar LEADER na h-Éireann (CLÉ), PLANET and the Community Partnership Network (CPN). Funding for these three organisations was provided directly or indirectly by the department. Up to this year, 100 local development companies delivered development programmes and schemes on behalf of Mr Eamon Ò Cuiv. In the revision of areas of coverage, these were replaced by 53 companies.
