Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 2: To ask the Minister for Community; Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs if any research has been done in relation to areas in which funding has been withdrawn from community development programmes to determine the effect of the withdrawal of such funding on the communities involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29077/10]

Pat Carey (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy is aware, the local development social inclusion programme and the community development programme were my Department's two main social inclusion and community development programmes. These came to an end on 31 December last and have been superseded by a new integrated programme, the local and community development programme. A key difference between the new local and community development programme and its predecessor programmes is the fact that, when fully implemented, it will be delivered nationally on an integrated basis by a reduced number of companies.

Under the new programme, local development companies and community development projects continuing in the programme are required to identify and meet the needs of their communities and I have asked that particular attention be given to RAPID areas and to those areas where community development programmes no longer operate. As I have outlined in the past, my overall aim is to ensure that, notwithstanding the difficult budgetary position, disadvantaged communities will benefit from a more focused programme and better integrated actions. As previously indicated, my primary concern in this most difficult economic climate is to make every effort to ensure that the front-line services provided by or supported through my Department, especially those focused on the needs of the most disadvantaged communities, are protected and to minimise overheads and ancillary costs. My Department will continue to work to that end with Pobal and the local development and community groups involved.

Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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I wish to be associated with the remarks made with regard to Deputy Ring. He is going on to greener pastures and I wish him well. He has been a great advocate of the community, rural and Gaeltacht affairs brief and he will be missed in that regard.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Thank you.

Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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The Minister is from Kerry and he can sidestep better than many people. In that reply he gave me the best sidestep I ever saw a Kerryman give anyone because he did not answer the question. Not one word was with regard to the question. I asked what has been done where funding has been withdrawn from particular community development programme areas. I am afraid there was nothing in the answer on that.

Groups did not get funding, for whatever reason. There is a need to look at these areas to see what can be done. I trust the Minister to see whether something can be done. Perhaps they can be covered by the new programme. However, just because they did not qualify for funding they should not be ignored. Good work was done in those areas. Will the Minister look at the files and see whether something can be done and perhaps at a later stage we can ask about it again? I am concerned about a shortfall and I want to know there will not be one with regard to existing facilities. Everyone involved in those community development programmes sought to do good.

While I am on my feet I will ask the Minister whether there is agreement on the new proposal. Where does it stand? How many groups have signed up to it? Has an overall national plan been agreed? Proposals were made with regard to specific groups seeking to sign up to a national plan but others did not agree with that. Will the Minister provide the House with an overview on where we stand now?

Pat Carey (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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I will give a very direct answer to Deputy Wall this time. I meant to do so first time and I hope I did so. It is not my intention, it is not the Department's intention and I certainly do not think it was my predecessor's intention to have any diminution in the intensity and vigour of community development work in this country. I do not want to see that happen. I acknowledge and recognise the superb work being done throughout the country by many projects, including community development projects. However, the vast majority of these interventions have been in existence for the best part of 20 years. Any intervention in the community development area or any area that is not prepared to look at itself, have itself examined and evaluate whether it is doing the job that is appropriate to today has questions to answer. These projects were very appropriate when they were established in the 1980s. The vast majority of them that were able to evolve over that period are still very relevant.

I visited a number of projects in recent weeks. In Cork, I saw community development projects that were the drivers of development. They made very good interventions. Unfortunately, elsewhere in the country I saw community development projects that had become isolated from some innovative work. To answer the Deputy's question, I do not want to see any group that feels it has been doing very good work to be thrown to the four winds. The Department has always stated it will assist in whatever way it can to try to help those projects that perhaps did not meet the standard set by the Department and its evaluators as centres for effective services.

On the question on whether there is agreement now, there is not total agreement by any means. The majority of groups has seen the merit of going down the integration route. There are a number of models.

I met a number of people who were able to tell me that in different parts of the country interest models were beginning to evolve. As the Deputy is aware, last night was the cut-off point for those groups to sign up. I was very conscious of the fact that if I gave any indication of a model I favoured early on, everybody would run after it. There are a number of them in different parts of the country. Members in this House from all parties have suggested to me that there are models of potentially good practice.

Over the next weeks and months my officials and I will be working out how we can make the best impact on people's lives because ultimately, this is about having an impact in, by and large, marginalised and disadvantaged communities throughout the country, whether they are urban or rural. It has to be done. They will in time become part of a very effective overall plan. There will be some teething problems and bedding down will be needed but the essence of the model and the approach that has been taken is the correct one for the moment.

Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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I pray that the Minister will not ignore those who have not signed up. There was a deadline. This has required a lot of examination. I ask the Minister that if someone feels he or she is hard done by and has not met the deadline that the Minister would consider the case and give them an opportunity to apply, but not next September. If a person wants to apply he or she should do so now and be given an opportunity.

Pat Carey (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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As I said in an interview recently which has been broadcast, to continue the sports analogy I am prepared to allow a little bit of injury time, in terms of days rather than stringing it out for several weeks.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 3: To ask the Minister for Community; Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs the proportion of funding earmarked for LEADER partnerships that has been drawn down to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29074/10]

Deputies:

As the Deputy is aware, my Department is responsible for the delivery of axes 3 and 4 of the rural development programme 2007-13 for which overall funding of the order of €425 million is available. The main objectives of the programme are to improve the quality of life in rural areas and facilitate the diversification of the rural economy. The individual measures under the programme, including the indicative funds available, are as follows: diversification into non-agricultural activities for farm families- €16.66 million; support for business creation and development - €48.26 million; encouragement of tourism activities - €45.4million; basic services for the economy and rural population - €49.61 million; village renewal and development - €54.2 million; conservation and upgrading of the rural heritage - €51.7 million; training and information on adapted and new skills - €29.45 million; and implementing co-operation projects - €10.7 million.

Deputies:

There are 36 local action groups contracted on my Department's behalf to deliver the rural development programme throughout the country and these groups are the principal decision-makers on the allocation of project funding. Such decisions are made in the context of the individual group's local development strategy and in line with my Department's operating rules and European Union regulations. In terms of funding, €27 million was made available to the groups in 2009 and the allocation under the programme in 2010 is €40 million. This year's allocation represents an increase of approximately 120% on expenditure in 2009.

Deputies:

The Deputy will be aware that it is imperative, particularly in the current economic climate, that the rural development programme maximises the funding available for the programme in local areas, in order to ensure the improvement of the quality of life in rural areas and the diversification of the rural economy. With this in mind, I recently announced that the groups are free to enter into commitments up to the value of €40 million for 2011. In announcing this initial allocation for next year, I urged the groups to focus their energies on supporting projects that will bring jobs and real and sustainable growth to communities across rural Ireland and I am confident that the availability of this initial €40 million allocation for 2011 will allow the groups to do this.

Deputies:

To support them in the roll-out of the programme, my Department is working very closely with individual groups to ensure efficient and effective delivery. It is also worth noting that I and the Minister of State, Deputy White, intend to meet with all the groups during July to discuss progress and emerging opportunities and also to address any difficulties that they have encountered in the ongoing delivery of the programme. I am confident that groups will continue to serve their local communities by ensuring that all available funding is spent so as to maximise the impact of the programme in their areas.

Deputies:

The following table outlines the allocations and the spend in each group.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I tabled some parliamentary questions on this matter. In his reply the Minister said €40 million is allocated for this year but we are halfway through the year and the most recent reply I received stated €9 million has been drawn down so far. Some of the groups told me they are having difficulty in accessing the funding from the Leader programme. Will the full €40 million be drawn down for this year, particularly given the current economic difficulties in the country? It is very important that as much of that funding as possible can be spread around the country to try to create badly needed jobs. Is the Minister happy that the Exchequer funding will be in place for this year and for the duration of the programme from 2007-13? It is very important that it is, as well as the European funding which can be matched by it, in place.

Pat Carey (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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To answer the last question first, I am happy that will happen. To broaden the debate, the Minister of State, Deputy White, and I have been discussing concerns Deputy Ring and others have brought to our attention about difficulties that clients of Leader companies seem to be encountering. Over the past number of weeks we have been in discussions with our officials and others to see where we can identify best practice and where the difficulties are. Access to credit is one of them, about that there is no doubt. We had some useful meetings in recent weeks at which we asked the officials to explore how that difficulty can be overcome. When we meet the groups in the middle of July we hope we will be able to encourage and support them in trying to get through the different aspects of that difficulty.

I have spoken to the Minister for Enterprise and Innovation, Deputy O'Keeffe. There are great ideas being circulated but there has been a difficulty in drawing down funding. I spoke to a senior official in charge of the programme yesterday and I gather that, for whatever reason, there is an improved flow of funds going out at this stage. The approval of the Department of Finance is for €40 million next year and required an assurance from us that we could deliver the spending of it. I am fairly confident that will be the case because the potential of the programmes is enormous and can have a transformational effect in rural communities.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I am glad the Minister, Deputy Carey, and the Minister of State, Deputy White, are aware of the problems. They are correct to say that there are some wonderful ideas in circulation. I agree with them on the issue of credit. The banks have to play their part and support the people who are prepared to take a risk.

On the question of funding, I have been critical of the previous Leader programmes. I do not want to be hypocritical and say we allowed people to draw down funding without due care. That has to be done as we all have to protect the taxpayer's money. At the same time I am glad the Minister and the Minister of State have had meetings with their officials and the Leader companies. I ask them to revert to these companies. There are some very ideas in my county and people from other parts of the country come to me to tell me they have good ideas. They want to create employment in rural areas.

We need to try to get credit flowing from the banks if possible, through the Minister for Finance, and the Leaders companies need to speed up to try to get the decisions made on applications. It is important. We need to create as many jobs as possible. I believe in bottom up approach. If we do not create them in rural areas it will not happen. It is important to support local communities.

Pat Carey (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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Deputy Ring is correct. We are anxious to address those blockages. When he examines the table on spend and allocation, he will find while there is a feeling that more could be spent the vast majority of companies are spending an average figure for this stage of the programme, bearing in mind that this will continue beyond 2013. There is a two year roll-over period.