Mr. Pat Dowling:

I shall make some general comments. My background commenced with Leader and then I was involved in the establishment of a county development board and its first strategy. It was a great era where everyone was brought together in a room and it ensured we had a united delivery. Cohesion is a core aspect of community plans. We also need integrated development, joined-up thinking and the removal of a multiplicity of agencies and plans, as Deputy Cowen mentioned, plus ensuring we have a united delivery approach. The Local Government Act makes it clear that our role is to protect the interests of the community. That is of paramount importance and has guided Government policy.

It is important to stress that the LECPs, LCDCs and all of the acronyms that Deputy Ó Broin referred to exist because it is Government policy to bring about a greater united approach in the delivery of programmes. Public moneys continue to fund a range of initiatives at a local level. It is important that local government, as the agent and arm of central Government, plays its role in co-ordinating and bringing full transparency to all of these programmes. I empathise with the frustrations felt by members who have been on LEOs, enterprise boards, development boards and companies around which we can local projects funded. It is important that such programmes are not beyond the reach and influence of the local authority as it acts as the civil guardian of that county and community due to being the only organisation that is elected by the people. Therefore, it is important to protect such an institution.

Members have mentioned the important democratic mandate. As somebody who has come from outside of the local government sector and worked in some of these agencies, notwithstanding the wonderful work that is done, I believe the democratic mandate is important. While elected members were members of boards of Leader and partnership companies, the local authority per sedid not have a ratifying and sanctioning role in the programmes, which is what brings the required transparency.

The concerns of members about the programmes are well noted. However, these are early days and we are in a new phase. County Clare has its own challenges in terms of this matter. Let us bear in mind that the LCDC is a committee of the council that brings relevant parts of companies that ensure the money is allocated in accordance with the LECP for the county. In the past there was a Leader plan and other plans that gathered their own data and local authorities were marginally involved. The new scheme is an improvement but time will be the barometer of its success.

The concerns of members have been well noted and reflect those of other people. If these structures bring added bureaucracy to communities then it is our job to alleviate that because that is not the intent. The current plan has brought us all around the table in order that we can move local community development forward.