267 Mr. Bree asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the reason Leader companies involved in the Leader I Programme were not obliged to provide audited annual accounts; the reason the accounts which were lodged with his Department by Leader groups are not being made available for public inspection; if he will agree to make such accounts available for public inspection in the interest of openness and transparency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5102/97]

Under the terms of their agreements signed with my Department, groups approved under the Leader I Programme were required to submit audited annual accounts to my Department. These were required as part of the monitoring and control procedures under the programme.

As indicated in reply to a similar question on 5 November 1996, the Leader groups, as incorporated bodies, are subject to legal requirements to submit audited annual accounts to the Companies Office or to the Office of the Registrar of Friendly Societies. This material is available for inspection by the public.