More West Cork funding is available
The board of the WCDP local development company recently rejected a Department of Environment funding cut of €2.4m, which contrasted with increases of up to €6m in other regions.
Mr Hogan has said there is sufficient funding to pay for all rural development projects approved and in the queue for payment, from €25.5m which he recently allocated.
“Further moneys are available to West Cork Development Partnership to bring forward new projects between now and the end of August,” he said in Seanad Eireann, responding to Senator Denis O’Donovan who had said WCDP has its budget cut 14% whereas other partnership groups had increases.
Senator O’Donovan said projects which have gone through the process are now left high and dry because of lack of funding.
“If these projects were to proceed, it would result in a minimum of 50 to 60 jobs, which would be critical to an area such as West Cork.
“Some communities have planned these projects for six, nine or 12 months and in some cases planning permission had been granted.”
Mr Hogan said it became necessary to review commitments and expenditure for the Leader elements of Ireland’s rural development programme late in 2011, and adjust individual local development company allocations, after the EU changed the maximum rate at which it co-funds rural development from 55% to 85%.
During this process, there was a Government embargo on Leader project approvals nationally for much of 2013.
On Apr 24, Mr Hogan released €42 million worth of approved projects. “If any of the projects the senator mentioned are in the pipeline, they can be paid for out of this particular fund. Those projects that were in the queue have been prioritised to be released for funding.”
“When we did the trawl of the €42m, we found that only €25.5m in that category had all the necessary approvals.
“Perhaps some of the projects brought to the Senator’s attention may be in the other €18m that did not meet all the criteria.”
He said he protected as much of the funding as he possibly could for WCDP.
“We are subject to serious audit by Deloitte on behalf of the European Commission so everything must be done properly.
“When I discovered that the momentum behind the programme was not as good as it should have been in 2011, I opened up to all Leader companies, including West Cork Development Partnership, the opportunity to apply for additional funding for additional projects.
“The ones that came forward with additional proposals are being rewarded. Notwithstanding this, I ensured no company had less than 80% of the original allocation.
“I will be returning to the West Cork Development Partnership and all other Leader companies by the end of August to clarify whether projects to which they committed in 2011 and 2012 will go ahead. If not, we will reallocate the money to companies in a position to draw it down.
“All of the money in the rural development programme must be committed by the end of the year.”
