Seán Kyne (Galway West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State to the House to debate this issue. The Government has initiated a process to establish the local community development committees, LCDCs, one of which was established in Galway. Last September, the LCDC in Galway met and had to make a decision on whether to allow one, two or more than two lots for the county. It decided that there would be one lot for the social inclusion and community activation programme, SICAP, contract for the county. Subsequently, there were attempts to have this decision reversed. All the Oireachtas Members from Galway West, including my colleague Deputy Derek Nolan, Senators from the constituency and all the councillors representing the Connemara municipal district requested the LCDC in Galway to reverse the decision and allow for two lots, or allow a separate lot for the Connemara area, which is a distinct region separate from the rest of the county. One has to go through the Galway city local authority area to reach the rest of the county. The reversal did not happen and a contract was subsequently issued.

There is much concern in the locality, not least over the process. There were 19 people eligible to vote on the decision to allow one lot, but only five people made the decision because of certain people not turning up, conflicts of interest and the private and public elements of the process laid down. There is much concern in Connemara. FORUM Connemara has a great record of providing a service to that part of the community over 25 years. The community wants to know what options are now open to FORUM Connemara regarding the SICAP and whether the LCDC decision can be reversed. It is concerned about continuity of services. I appreciate that Galway Rural Development would have to continue services for the full county, but there is still a lot of concern. Ten jobs - five full-time and five part-time - are at risk, in an area where jobs are badly needed. They represent very valuable resources so there is great concern in the community. I do not know anyone in the Connemara area who is happy with the decision that has been made. Unfortunately, it has been made by Galway people on the LCDC.

I am not happy with the decision and I am wondering what the Minister of State and the Department will do to intervene.

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