LEADER in Ireland

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LEADER in Ireland

• National Institutional Organisation

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Role of Managing Authority

• Until 2002 LEADER managed by Ministry of
  Agriculture and Rural Development
• New Ministry of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht
  Affairs established in 2002
• Rural Development Division responsible for all
  policy and operational issues relating to LEADER

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Role of Managing Authority - Policy

• Commission ex-ante evaluation
• Examine ex-post evaluation of previous programme
• Put in place consultation process spread net as
  wide as possible
• Prepare strategy going forward

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Role of Managing Authority - Policy

• Resolve outstanding issues with the European
  Commission must maintain close contact
• Request business plans and proposals from LAGs
• Commission external evaluation
• Programme in place establish Monitoring
  Committee
• Ensure Monitoring Committee is representative of
  interested parties, farming organisations, rural
  development bodies, LAGs, relevant Ministries etc.

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Role of Managing Authority - Policy

• Monitoring Committee to meet every six months to
  review progress
• Important to provide all relevant financial and
  indicator data.
• Too much information is better than too little
• Review Mid-Term Evaluation
• Conduct ongoing review of Programme

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Role of Managing Authority - Policy

• Ensure early appointment of network
• Agree work plan work with LAGs and network to
  agree priorities
• Review progress on a regular basis
• Dont be afraid to drop an item if there is no
  demand for it.

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Role of Managing Auth. - Operations

• Primarily concerned with financial issues
• Issue detailed operating rules
• Purpose of rules is to bring to the attention of
  the LAGs the need for compliance with their
  obligations under E.U. Regulations and National
  legislation and guidelines
• Rules can be more stringent than E.U. rules but
  must not be less restrictive

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Role of Managing Auth. - Operations

• Examine financial returns in detail
• Advise LAGs of any problems that arise
• Pay LAGs when threshold is reached
• Work closely with Departmental Inspectors on
  eligibility issues

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Role of Managing Auth. - Operations

• Prepare E.U. claims for submission to EAGGF
  Paying Authority, Ministry of Agriculture
• Deal with any queries
• Look at revision of finanical plans of LAGs
• Prepare proposal for revised financial plan to
  Commission as required.

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Further information

• www.pobail.ie
• www.ilsu.ie