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

The amendments to be taken in this grouping relate to the establishment and functions of the local community development committees. Amendment No. 19 addresses an omission in the published Bill. It proposes that section 45 of the Local Government Act 2001, relating to the attendance of the media and public at local authority meetings, shall not apply in the case of local community development committees. Although the LCDCs will be local authority committees, their roles and functions will differ considerably from those of other local authority committees. A significant element of the LCDC work will be the consideration of funding applications. This work will involve confidential and commercially sensitive information which it would not be appropriate to discuss in the presence of the media and the public.

Amendment No. 22 proposes to include youth organisations within the meaning of "representatives of local community interests" set out in the Bill. Specific provision for youth organisations reflects the Government and EU priority of focusing on supports for young people, particularly in the area of training, upskilling and employment supports.

Through Amendment No. 31 I seek to clarify at section 128B(1)(g) that the aim of the Bill is to optimise the use of public funding as it relates to publicly funded local and community development supports. As currently drafted, 128B(1)(g) might be interpreted as charging the committees with improving the efficiency with which all public authorities use the full range of the resources, not just local and community development supports. This would go beyond the proposed remit of the committees and, accordingly, the provision has been amended.

Amendment No. 37 provides that when the chief officer is seeking nominees for the local community development committee, he or she shall do so in consultation with the corporate policy group. This will provide for an important input into the process for the elected members via the CPG. The focus would be on identifying the sectors to be represented on LCDCs rather than selecting individuals. In practice, nominating organisations will select their own nominees and submit them to the chief officer. He or she will have no role in selecting the individual nominees, nor will the members of the CPG, and this will be provided for in regulations.

I seek to make two minor amendments in this grouping. Amendment No. 50 addresses an omission from the original Bill, which did not provide for guidelines of a general policy nature to be issued in respect of the local community and development committees. Amendment No. 52 corrects an incorrect cross reference at section 128G(1) in the published Bill.

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