Frequently Asked Questions About RDP / Leader Guidelines and Application Procedure

Who is eligible to apply?

Applications will be accepted from community groups, individuals sole traders or companies seeking grant support under any of the measures below:

Programme measures;

Diversification into non agricultural activities
Business creation and development
Encouragement of tourism activities
Basic services for the economy and rural population
Village and countryside renewal and development
Conservation and upgrading of rural heritage
Training and information
Implementing Co-operation Projects

What geographic area is covered?

The proposed activity must take place within Galway Rural Development’s operational area which covers all of North and East Galway. Connemara and the Gaeltacht areas are now covered by Forum in Letterfrack and MFG.

What kind of support is available?

Capital Assistance (e.g. construction work, building expansion, equipment)
Technical Assistance (e.g. feasibility studies)
Training Assistance
Advice and support

What are the grant rates and ceilings?

Support rate for individual promoters and companies

For capital and other projects funding of up to 50% is available for suitable projects up to €150,000

Analysis and Development

May receive 75% with a maximum grant of €30,000.

Support rate for community organisations

For capital and other projects 75% with a maximum grant of up to €150,000 with the exception of

Analysis and Development

May receive 90% with a maximum grant of €30,000.

Support rate for accommodation

The maximum amount of support for the provision of tourist accommodation shall be 50% to a maximum of €150,000

Support for training

Training can be funded up to 100%.

What are the eligibility requirements?

Eligible costs for projects involving capital investment include:

Construction
Purchase of new machinery and equipment
Second hand equipment for micro enterprises only and compliant with relevant conditions
Direct project costs, such as architects', engineers' and consultants' fees up to a ceiling of 12% of costs arising from construction work and the purchase of machinery and equipment.

Ineligible Activity includes:

The purchase of land or buildings
Working Capital (including stock)
Conventional motor vehicles i.e. cars, industrial / farm / construction vehicles, vans, buses
Conventional retail operations
Courses of instruction or training which form the part of normal education Programmes or systems at secondary or higher levels.
Insurance for project promoters
Mainstream activities of sporting clubs & organisations
Race horses or sports horses
Nursing Homes
Planning application fees
Loans
Support for Agricultural Activity

What is the approval process?

If you have a project idea that you feel is eligible for RDP funding, contact the Enterprise Officer in Galway Rural Development who will discuss the project with you and determine eligibility. Should your project be deemed eligible you will be invited to submit an application form.

How do I make an application for grant aid?

Meet with a Galway Rural Development Company Ltd, (GRD) staff member to discuss your project. Staff will then work with you to develop and finalise your proposal. An official grant application form must be completed and you will submit this with all the support documentation (see below).

Your application will be acknowledged. However this should not be taken as an indication that grant aid will be awarded to your project. All applications will go through an evaluation process before being presented to the Board for a decision.

What are the application stages?

In the first instance it is important to talk to GRD staff who will advise you on the likely eligibility of your project and the steps to be taken in making an application. A site visit may be required.
Prepare a Business/ Community Development Plan
Complete grant application form, signed and dated and submit with support documentation
Written acknowledgement will be issued from GRD on receipt of the application.
Your Project will be submitted to the Evaluation Committee when all paperwork is in order. The
Evaluation Committee makes a recommendation to the Board of GRD.
The GRD Board considers recommendation and makes the final decision.
A letter of offer (or in some cases rejection) is sent to you enclosing a grant contract, which you should sign and return.
Project commences and you regularly update GRD on progress.
On completion of project you will submit all documentation for drawing down grant aid.
Documentation is checked.
Final inspection of completed project is undertaken.
Grant Aid is issued when all documentation is complete.

Work should not commence on your project until GRD has received your formal acceptance of grant offer.

What support documentation do I need?

Application

Business/Development Plan.
Evidence of legal status i.e. Memorandum and Articles of Association/Constitution. Certificate of Incorporation or evidence of charitable status (If Applicable)
Copy of most recent audited accounts (for Limited Companies) / Accountants annual report if applicable
Permissions / Consents e.g. Planning permission where appropriate
Evidence of lease/ ownership, where project involves capital projects e.g. sites of building construction, renovation and map.
Leases must run for a minimum period of 5 years from the date of the final grant payment to the promoter.
Quotations , the following threshold will apply; to each item of expenditure grant aided
- up to €5,000.- one quote required
- €5,0001 to €50,000 – three quotes required
- over €50,001 – five quotes required

Do I get my grant upfront or upon project completion?

Grant payment will be made on completion of the project submission by the promoter of a fully documented, valid signed claim form and on inspection by GRD as to the project's satisfactory completion to include:

Tax Affairs
- Promoters up to €10,000 signed Tax Declaration Form
- Contractors up to €10,000 Tax Clearance Certificate
- Over €10,000 Tax Clearance Certificate /C

VAT Letter from Revenue Commissioners, if not registered for VAT.
Original receipted invoices
Current relevant insurance policy with indemnity.
Evidence of Compliance as appropriate, with the relevant national standards and regulations, e.g. Fire Safety Certificate.
Evidence of Payment (by promoter) All project expenditure should be made by cheque. Relevant bank statements and copies of cashed cheques will be required to verify all project expenditure.
RDP plaque in place
Capital / construction projects will require independent assessment of costs by an appropriately qualified person. The promoter will have to bear the cost of any such assessment
Bank details form
Certified contribution of voluntary labour and donations, if applicable

Throughout the project life cycle a number of site visits will be conducted to document the progress of the project and provide ongoing support and mentoring to the project promoter .

Note: Further requirements may be specified depending on the project funded

What if my project takes longer to complete than I thought?

Projects that exceed their contract completion date must go back to the Board and a decision will then be taken whether or not to grant approval for an extension.

Note: Further requirements may be specified depending on the project funded

Additional Information

Evaluation Criteria of Projects

The following will be applied in assessing applications for grant aid:

Eligibility

Does the project comply with eligibility criteria as set out in the Rural Development Programme Operating Rules 2007 -2013?

Additionality

Projects will be initially examined to establish if they are more suitable for funding by other agencies or under other Programmes.

Innovation

Is there something new about the project in terms of the product or idea, the technology/ production method, the market, the promoter, or the location?

Deadweight

Does the project actually require RDP funding to proceed?

Displacement / Competition

Will the project be in direct competition with an existing local business and could it result in the displacement of jobs elsewhere?

Promoter background / skills

What is the Promoters track record and have they the necessary training and skills to make a success of the project?

Public Funding

Grant aid cannot be awarded to a project / (or phased / element of a project) in combination with other Public Funds

Job Creation

There is a major emphasis on economic activity and enterprise. Will the project result in the creation of new jobs, full-time, seasonal or part time? Or will existing jobs be sustained / secured by this new project?

Benefit to Local Area

What benefit will the project have for the Promoter, wider Community or the environment

Other criteria include ability of group/individual to undertake the project, quality of business plan/community development plan, availability of matching funds and long-term viability/sustainability of the project.

Important Grant Information

Funding from other sources

Under no circumstances may other sources of public funding be reckoned as a source of private matching funding.

Voluntary Labour

Available in certain circumstances as a source of private matching funds for community based projects and Famer’s labour for projects under the diversification into non-agricultural activates only.

At least 10% of the matching contribution must be in actual expenditure. The total amount to be claimed through voluntary labour must be submitted at the application stage, (i.e. prior to commencement of approved works) and any excess over the agreed amount will be ineligible.

The submission must include the names of those providing the labour, their relationship to Community Promoter, the nature, time, quantity and definitive cost of the contribution and the qualifications which enable them to make that contribution.

The voluntary labour when complete must then be certified by an appropriately qualified third party, e.g. engineer, accountant, etc., to be agreed between GRD and the promoters and at the promoters expense.

Attendance at meetings is not eligible.

Donations

The donation of land, buildings, equipment or services free of charge or at a nominal cost as part of a project may also be reckoned as private matching funds for community based projects only with prior agreement of the GRD.

De Minimis’ Rule

In accordance with ‘de minimis rule ( Commission Regulation (EC) 1998/2006 ) the overall limit of de minimis aid shall not exceed €200,000 over any three year period from all grant-giving agencies whose aid also falls under ‘de minimis’, e.g. the County Enterprise Board The ‘de minimis rule applies to all initiatives including community initiative, involving economic activity

Equality of Opportunities

Under equality legislation, it is unlawful to discriminate against persons on the grounds of gender, sexual orientation, marital or parental status, religion, age, disability, race, colour, language, nationality and national or ethnic orientation, including membership of the travelling community. A project whose promoter operates (or is considered likely to operate after the project is completed) a policy of discrimination will not be supported.

Access to Project

Where a project has been grant aided staff of GRD, the E.U., the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs and the BMW Regional Assembly reserve the right to inspect the project and project documentation.

Grant Clawback

The grant must be repaid in full if: (a) the beneficiary goes into liquidation or receivership within a period of five years of the date of the final grant payment or (b) if any grant aided assets are sold, leased or changed within five years of the date of the grant payment without the express approval of EU Rural Development Division.

Insurance

Insurance cover must be taken out on a project’s grant aided assets, including Public Liability. The cover must indemnify GRD, the Minister and Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs and the EU.

Publicity

Grant recipients must publicly acknowledge RDP and NDP support as advised by GRD

Data Protection

Galway Rural Development Company is registered with the Data Protection Commissioner under the Data Protection Act. The information contained in the application form is for use by Galway Rural Development Company Ltd to determine to whom, and towards what end its funding will be distributed. The information may also be made available to the EU, Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs as funders of the Programmes of Galway Rural Development Company Ltd. All projects grant aided by GRD will be listed on the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food website.