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Deputy Mattie McGrath has stated that Tipperary county will experience over a 50% reduction in funding for its LEADER programme in 2015. Photo: iStock

Independent TD Mattie McGrath has accused the Minister for the Environment, Alan Kelly of completely undermining the viability of numerous LEADER initiatives in County Tipperary. Deputy McGrath made his comments following confirmation from Minister Kelly that the county will now experience over a 50% reduction in funding for its LEADER programme this year.

Commenting, Mr McGrath said: “The Minister is touting the €10 million which is being offered to Tipperary to fund this year’s LEADER initiatives as a progressive and triumphant political victory for him. The reality is, however, that this represents an unprecedented slashing of €12 million from Tipperary’s LEADER budget of last year.

“This reduction comes on top of the fact that last May, under Phil Hogan, the Department of the Environment savagely cut the national co-funding rate for the programme down to 39%, well below the 50/50 rate ministers had promised,” he said.

‘HATCHET JOB’

“This financial hatchet job which is being continued by Minister Kelly and which will be outlined to us by Minister of State Ann Phelan has seriously drained local authority resources. Hundreds of projects across the county have benefited from LEADER companies, which have regenerated and revitalised communities by creating employment and providing local resources.

“This latest round of cuts only confirms the view that despite the minister’s rhetoric of commitment to rural communities, his decisions are telling a very different and a very brutal story,” concluded Deputy McGrath.

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