What ongoing support it will provide to address the maintenance backlog for village halls across the country.

Rural communitygroups will be able to access support through the Scotland Rural Development Programme 2007-13 which the Executive hassubmitted to Brussels. Before any of the available funds can bespent, the programme needs to be approved by the European Commission. Approvalis expected later this year.
The programme containsa specific measure, worth £32 million over seven years, to help provideleisure, recreation, sporting, catering and other rural community services andfacilities, including village halls. Arrangements for applying for such supportunder a Rural Development Contract will be publishedlater this year.
There will alsobe new opportunities for rural community groups to benefit from LEADER. Some £41 million has been earmarked over the sevenyear programme to support service provision, including village halls and othercommunity.