Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I indicated that we are trying to strengthen local government functions, especially in economic and community development. In particular, I referenced the provisions for alignment of local and community development with local authorities. Most people are beginning to accept that we must have people at local level, either on a voluntary, community or statutory basis, working together. There is much interaction anyway but we want to ensure this can be underpinned by statute. This is the first time the community and voluntary sector will be recognised in statute as part of the structures of local government, although many within the community and voluntary sector do not realise that. This will not be an ad hoc committee and it will not be set up by a private company for the purpose of carrying out particular operational matters for a Europe-funded programme. It will be underpinned in statute with a relationship with local government for the first time.

The community projects mentioned by Deputy Murphy will be protected under these structures, and it is not a case of dismantling structures that are working effectively in the north side of Dublin city, where Deputy O'Sullivan has a keen interest. There is close work with local community development programmes, and that will continue to operate in a seamless fashion under these structures.

There will be no fear there. In fact, there is €47 million to be spent on the local community development programme next year. There is effectively a 1% cut, which can be found in administration. We will protect the front-line projects for next year, and the 1,650 people who work in the sector will continue to do that. There will be no difficulty whatsoever. When one hears some of the background noise in the rural areas, one would think all the structures we have in place are going to be dismantled. They are not, but they and local government, under the alignment proposal, will have to work more closely together.

Deputy Stanley's amendment refers to addressing the causes of poverty and social exclusion. I agree with him. We will look at the spirit of what he says in the amendment and address that with amendments later in the process with a view to capturing that. The local community and development plans that will be drawn up will have to undergo a major consultation process with municipal districts, and the municipal members in plenary session will have to adopt the plan. However, a great deal of consultation will have to take place with the community sector. I envisage that there will be a strong relationship with that sector. Again, however, there will have to be an enhanced cultural change at local authority level to deal with the local community sector. Over the years there has been a breakdown in the relationship between the community sector and local government and we are trying to bring that back together. They must work with each other in a more structured way and take each other's concerns into account. The democratically elected persons will be the final arbiters on policy and the disbursement of money.

There are many people working in the community and voluntary sector at present, particularly in private companies, who do not fully understand their obligations under company law and employment law. There is a burden on them now, at the end of programmes and the start of others, to realise that they have these responsibilities under company law, which perhaps they should have known before they took on the responsibilities. I know there are people leaving companies because of those responsibilities. These will now be handed over or taken more on board by the local authority structures and the people in the community sector will be able to get with the job they are best at, which is animating projects and bringing forward proposals and projects to the local community development committee, LCDC, for the purpose of financing and implementing them, based on the local community development plan which will be approved by the councillors.

Deputy Cowen mentioned the membership of the committee. Due to the bottom-up approach under the rural development programme, there must be a majority from the community on the LCDC. If there are 15 members, for example, eight of them must be from the community sector and seven from the statutory bodies, including the local authority. We have three members in mind as a proposal at present. That could be two councillors and a director of services. We are leaving that flexible to allow the local authorities to decide what the combination would be. However, certain statutory bodies in a local area would have to be represented on these committees as they will have a huge input, such as the HSE, SOLAS and the local enterprise boards. Equally, however, the community sector will have a big input, so it will have a majority of representation. If there are 15 members, for example, they will decide who will be the chairperson among themselves. It need not go to the full plenary session of the council.