Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

It is a bit surreal for the Minister to talk about a robust report. The review was to see if the LCDCs were robust in how they operate on the ground but we are now looking at the review to see if it is robust, almost two years after it was due to report. The Minister will see why I am sceptical about this matter. We all feel that the LCDCs are doing very good work but the review was to see how effective they were and if they were able to change with the changing circumstances, in particular in the areas of climate change and the sustainable development goals. It is very disappointing that it will take until July. Can the Minister assure me that it will be published in July? Who is actually sitting on it? How many representatives of the community are involved? I worked in LCDCs for 17 years and I have a certain scepticism about management pushing things. The work I have seen on the ground came from the community and that was the best work I have ever seen.

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