Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 35: To ask the Minister for Community; Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs his views on the impact of the reduced allocations totalling €9 million in 2011 across community development programmes and projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47124/10]

Pat Carey (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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The adjustmentto my Department's community development budget has been structured to protect front line services and supports at the expense of administration, overheads and ancillary costs. While the overall adjustment will impact on some programmes, my Department will continue to prioritise front line services to the greatest extent possible.

In the case of the Local and Community Development Programme, the Deputy should note that the 2011 funding allocation has been maintained at close to 2010 levels. The allocation to the programme for next year of €63.5 million represents a cut of order of 6% on the funding available last year. I am confident that this will allow for the continuation of important support for people in disadvantaged communities and will allow for the key, essential, front line services delivered through the programme to be maintained for 2011.

In order to protect the invaluable work being done at the coalface by community and voluntary groups, my Department will shortly commence a structured dialogue with the community and voluntary sector with the aim, inter alia, of ensuring that the impacts of any budgetary adjustments to the services provided by the sector are minimised, as far as possible. To this end, my Department will be working with the sector to achieve greater consolidation, co-ordination and efficiencies among service providers.

As the Deputy may be aware, contracts under the scheme to support national organisations will finish at the end of this year, and I am pleased to note that a new scheme for national organisations has been developed and this will be advertised shortly.Funding under the old scheme will be extended on an interim basis - until March 2011 at the latest - to allow for the new scheme to be rolled out.

Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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The Minister and I are of one mind with regard to the need to protect front line services to the greatest degree possible. The latter was my main concern in respect of tabling this question. As the Minister is aware, there are hundreds if not thousands of small community groups throughout the country which are doing outstanding work, mainly on a voluntary basis. Their efforts are being supported through an extremely small allocation of State funding. I am keen that the enormous amount of voluntary work that is being done should continue.

Having indicated that front line services will be protected to the greatest extent possible, is the Minister in a position to indicate the areas in which the €9 million will be saved? If he can provide clarity in that regard, I will be able to rest assured that the services to which I refer will be fully protected. Will the relevant savings be made in the administrative or bureaucratic areas or in other areas?

Pat Carey (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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In the interest of assisting Deputy Jim O'Keeffe, I am in a position to inform him that there are approximately 24,000 of the voluntary groups to which he refers. As far as I am concerned, these are the most important groups of their kind, particularly in the context of the way they deliver front line services. The relevant subhead also includes partnership and integrated companies and covers a range of areas and significant funding has already been allocated in respect of it. I have informed the organisations that reductions will have to be made in the areas of administration, overheads, the printing of glossy brochures, the holding of fancy launches, travel, etc. In addition, they will be obliged to consider salary comparisons across the sector. It is in these areas that savings can be achieved. From my contacts with the organisations in question, I am convinced that such savings will be made.

There are 22 volunteer centres throughout the country and these do extremely good work. I am anxious to continue to provide support to these centres. The Department also supports 64 of the larger national organisations and a new scheme relating to these will be advertised and rolled out in the coming year. Most of what is happening at present will continue to happen.

Members will be aware of what has taken place this year in the context of the integration of community development projects into the local companies. In most cases, work in this regard has proceeded in a reasonable manner. I am under no illusions but that there has been some pain involved at a local level. However, the vast majority of the community development projects are well on their way to being integrated. There may be a small number in respect of which additional time may be required for such integration.

Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Will the Minister indicate how the consultation process will operate, particularly in light of the large number of groups and projects involved? Will officials from the Department be handling the process or does the Minister propose to appoint consultants? How long will it take for the consultation process to be completed?

Pat Carey (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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The structured dialogue I referred to earlier was suggested by those within the sector. In some respects, it flows from what took place in the social partnership process over many years whereby the social partners and the Government would engage with each other. The Department is proposing to develop, in conjunction with those in the sector, draft papers. This process will facilitate and enable the discussion to take place. I am of the view that the consultation process should not be too lengthy. The basis for agreement is about right and most people are aware of what we want to try to achieve, namely, a more equal and more healthy society in which individuals feel they have a role to play.

We want to build on the strengths that already exist. I was not being frivolous when I stated that there are 24,000 voluntary groups throughout the country. These groups are both large and small, some of them are extremely ineffective while others are great at what they do. During the recent two-week period of bad weather, these groups came from nowhere to provide assistance. They operate under the radar but they were there when the cold snap arrived. We must try to ensure that we get the best out of these groups.

I must admit that I obtained the idea for this consultation process from the neighbouring island, where the structured dialogue with the voluntary sector has been quite successful. As long as I hold office and am in a position to exert any influence, the objective of the process will be to develop in this country a civic society that will make a difference.