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

I share Deputy Collins's desire to ensure we have local development companies delivering local programmes. The alignment process which I have initiated with local government is to ensure some funding will be available. Given the national budgetary situation, there is no guarantee of any funding in future. I expect, especially in the Dublin area where there will be a high retention rate of local property tax, that local councillors will be able to make decisions on social inclusion measures and the local development programmes to be delivered in each particular area. I encourage the local development companies to consider the situation in the context of the relationship they will have in future with local government, which is likely to be far healthier than the one they currently have with national government.

The information being sought by the community sector in Deputy Collins's area is available via the negotiators as part of the alignment working group. I would like to see work in this area completed immediately. I understand a meeting was held yesterday. I await a report of that meeting to see whether we can come to a conclusion on the alignment structures and committees to be established in local government to ensure programmes are delivered and the people about whom the Deputy and I are concerned continue to get front-line service delivery.

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