Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs Information on Heather Humphreys has confirmed that the West Cork Development Partnership has brought a complaint to the European Commission regarding an alleged breach of state aid rules in Cork, but said the Commission has not yet decided to launch a formal investigation.

Perhaps it’s just as well that changes at EU level have caused a cut in EU funding of more than 30% for rural development in Ireland.

Public representatives and rural development officials have warned that rural development has been seriously set back by changes in the €250m EU and Irish funded LEADER local development scheme.