Minister urged to reconsider changes to Galway LEADER programme

Galway Bay fm newsroom – The Environment Minister is being urged to reconsider proposed changes to the delivery of Social Inclusion and LEADER programmes in County Galway. Under a new plan, the entire county will be considered one area for the purpose of the delivery of the schemes. Galway West TD Eamon O'Cuiv says this is a major reversal of the last programme where linguistic requirements and geographical constraints were taken into account. Currently, the Connemara gaeltacht and the islands are treated as one unit, a further company in Letterfrack provides services for the remainder of Connemara, while Galway Rural Development caters to East Galway. Deputy O'Cuiv says Minister Alan Kelly needs take the unique topography of the county and language requirements into account.