Leader groups remain more or less the same

KATHY SINNOTT, MEP (Letters, October 23) rightly recognises the huge contribution Leader has made to rural community development and the excellent value for money it represents.

However, I wish to clarify a number of inaccuracies. The number of Leader groups is not being reduced to 22, as she has stated.

On the contrary, the proposal is to increase the number of integrated rural groups to 40.

In fact, most groups will remain the same size and larger counties like Tipperary are getting two groups.

There is no proposal to remove the voluntary boards and committee members. The draft articles and memorandum specify a voluntary board of 23 members with advisory councils and working groups made up of volunteers to ensure the strong bottom-up approach of Leader remains.

Ms Sinnott rightly points out that, as CAP shrinks, more money will be diverted to rural development which will help to strengthen the rural economy against any fall-off in agribusiness jobs.

In the consideration of the current round of EU funds, the Commission sought 7% of CAP to be ringfenced for rural development. However, the European Parliament voted to reduce such funding to 4%.

The Irish Leader Network lobbied our MEPs but, regrettably, only two supported the 7% proposal. They were Marian Harkin and Mary Lou McDonald.

Jack Roche

Rockchapel

Co Cork