Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 117: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs his views on to the recommendation contained in the report of the special group on public service numbers and expenditure programmes that the allocation for local and community development programmes should be cut by €44 million; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34306/09]

John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

As indicated to this House on a number of occasions, the recommendations in the report of the special group on public service numbers and expenditure programmes represent a set of options for consideration in the context of the 2010 budget and will fall to be examined by the Government at the appropriate time. Any decisions on the specific matter referred to by the Deputy will be made in that context.

Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Like Deputy Ring, I am interested in rural Ireland and the local and community initiatives that have been undertaken. My concern in this regard is that although expenditure will be decided in the context of the budget, the recommendations have been put into the public arena now. I have listened to the Minister say he has conducted reviews and so on. However, in the McCarthy report it is stated, "There is little evidence of positive outcomes for these initiatives." My concern is that the Minister of State and his line Minister did not put their case strongly enough to the group. Did they put any case at all, or was it the Department of Finance that did all the running? That matter must be cleared up.

We heard the Tánaiste, Deputy Coughlan, say there were many things in the McCarthy report with which she did not agree, and there are certainly many with which we on this side of the House do not agree. I am talking about reductions in the allocation not only for local community development programmes but also for many other programmes. In recommending a reduction in the allocation for the community services programme, the report states, "There is little information available on the outcomes achieved through the scheme." It seems the Ministers did absolutely nothing-----

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

It is an absolute joke.

Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

-----in terms of making a presentation to the McCarthy group to try to obtain a positive outcome. It is no wonder the group then concluded there was no evidence with regard to these programmes and stated the Department was not worth having in the first place.

John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The McCarthy report is an independent report. The Deputy mentioned specific instances in which the report was not supportive of programmes or stated there was little evidence for positive outcomes. I do not agree there is little evidence of positive outcomes from those initiatives. I refer in particular to the local development social inclusion programme and the community development programme. It is my objective that my Department's schemes and programmes, whether delivered directly or on the Department's behalf, give good value for money and meet the needs of all the communities and people we serve. In this regard, they are quite successful. My belief is based on successive independent reviews, audits and studies and, more importantly — the Deputy will agree with this — the detailed feedback I receive directly from communities and groups on a daily basis.

That being said, I have had concerns for some time about the manner in which we have programmes running in parallel. I knew we needed to redesign the community development and social inclusion programmes and it is in that regard I made the announcement a number of weeks ago that the programme would be redesigned to provide a single mechanism of delivery in order to be more effective and streamlined. However, I do not agree with the comment that these programmes do not deliver benefits for communities. I have seen it first hand. More importantly, however, these programmes have been running for a number of years and we have had a number of independent reviews and audits of their outcomes.

Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I conclude from that reply that the Minister of State's opinion is the same as my own — he does not agree with the recommendation in the McCarthy report that the financing of these schemes be reduced.

Did the Department make a submission to the McCarthy group or did it meet with the group about the assessment of the Department?

John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

My understanding is that Department officials met with the McCarthy group; neither I nor the Minister did. In case there is any misunderstanding, I reiterate that while the report specifically stated there was little evidence of the benefits of certain schemes, I do not agree with that statement, and I do see their benefits.