Michael McNamara (Clare, Labour) | Oireachtas source

As the Minister, Deputy Hogan, will be aware, in October 2012 his Department published the final report of the local government-local development alignment steering group. The conclusions contained in that report have far-reaching implications for the future of local development across the State. Clare Local Development Company currently employs 182 people on a wide range of programmes and schemes, including the Leader programme, the local community development programme, local training initiatives, a rural social scheme, a community employment scheme, the Tús scheme and a rural recreation project. In the coming months some 100 people will be employed on the Tús scheme. This is one of the highest levels of employment on the scheme across all local authority areas.

The main recommendation made by the alignment steering group relates to the establishment of a socioeconomic committee in each local authority area. In Clare and all other counties, these committees would effectively replace the local development companies. I can appreciate that the socioeconomic committees are being set up to address a perceived democratic deficit in the decision-making process and to give democratic legitimacy to the decisions that are made and to the dispersal of what are very large pots of money. The creation of new quangos will not automatically achieve this aim. It is not at all clear from the recommendations of the steering group who will be responsible for appointing the members of the socioeconomic committees. Neither is it stated whether the membership of the committees will entirely consist of local representatives. If it is solely the latter who will be involved, then difficulties will arise as a result of the fact that at least 51% of the membership of a body which administers Leader funding must come from social groups rather than local government. If the percentage is less than 50%, who will appoint the non-elected representatives?

People are concerned that local development as it currently exists will be emasculated and brought under the control of county managers. While that might be advisable and even beneficial in certain areas, it certainly would not be beneficial in every instance. What is proposed will certainly serve to emasculate local government. I look forward to the Minister's views on this matter.

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