Fianna Fáil warns too much red tape crippling Leader programme

A major crisis in the Leader programme is looming according to Fianna Fáil.

The party's rural affairs spokesperson is warning too much red tape is crippling the programme.

Eamon O'Cuiv has said only €100,000 of an available €200,000,000 has been spent, three years into the current scheme.

He is urging the government to be more proactive in rolling out these projects to protect and develop rural communities.

"The whole programme has become hugely bureaucratic, there is something like 18 steps now to approve a project and this means it's much slower than what it was in the past to approve projects under the Leader programme," he said.