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

I do not want to be proscriptive or explicit in the list of bodies that must be consulted as regards the LCDCs' point of view. I want to make it as broad as possible and not to exclude anybody. If we go down the road of naming a list of organisations or groups with whom one must consult, one will inevitably omit somebody. Rather than doing that, I intend to bring forward amendments to the published Bill in the Seanad on Committee Stage that will require LCDCs to consult with, amongst others, relevant publicly-funded bodies providing services within the committee's area. I think that will address both Deputies' concerns.

As regards amendment No. 30, I also intend to bring forward amendments on Committee Stage in the Seanad that will provide that the local community plan will focus on tackling disadvantage and social exclusion. Hopefully, that will meet some of the requirements in the spirit of what is intended as part of these amendments.

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