Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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First, I apologise for not anticipating the absence of the Minister, Deputy Rabbitte. When I saw Deputy Penrose in the House, I was sure that Topical Issue No. 3 would be taken in its proper sequence. I apologise to the Minister, Deputy Hogan.

I understand that it is the Minister's intention not to fund directly any national networks under the new Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme, SICAP, which is the successor of the Local and Community Development Programme. We, in the previous Government, decided that there were certain issues that needed to be dealt with on a national basis - Travellers, women's issues, island issues - and we recognised that in some cases the local approach only did not fit the bill. I was surprised to hear that it is intended not to make the €1.3 million, and the programme, available to the National Collective of Community Based Women's Networks. Given there are 17 projects, this €1.3 million is quite a modest amount. It would amount to €76,000 on average per group, including the national office. The collective funds essential networks for women in the most disadvantaged of the communities.

It is fair to say that we are not doing enough to tackle disadvantage. When I was Minister, it always amazed me that I could get plenty of notice for rural issues and island issues, but when one talked about urban disadvantage it was difficult to generate any interest from the media for the plight of those living in disadvantaged communities. If I might say so, women, in particular, in disadvantaged communities, face considerable challenges and are often the subject of significant disadvantages.

I ask the Minister to revisit his decision and recognise that some things are done better with a dedicated national programme, that the idea of incorporating the collective into the new SICAP will not work because in each of the areas in which there is one of these women's networks he is depending on the local bidder to put an equivalent programme in place with equivalent funding. I do not think that will happen. A important service serving a huge range of people will lose out. I ask the Minister to reconsider this decision and continue to provide the service to the 36,589 women who have been benefiting from this service and who, in my view, will not get the same service in the new arrangement.

When a good suggestion is made, it is good to listen. I compliment the Minister's colleague, Deputy Rabbitte. When this Dáil came together, there was a debate for an hour and a half on the oil and gas exploration sector and I suggested that we put the matter to good analysis in an Oireachtas committee. The committee put forward a comprehensive report, including new oil and gas terms. In fairness to the Minister, Deputy Rabbitte, he announced today that he will implement substantially the recommendations of that all-party committee, including Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael, Labour, Sinn Féin and Independents, and change gas exploration. We must learn in this Dáil that if a suggestion is good, no matter from where its comes, as Deputy Rabbitte certainly accepted, it should be taken on board.

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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I always have taken on board good suggestions from all sides of the House whenever I deemed them to be good suggestions. Sometimes the problem is who is to be the arbiter of the good suggestion. As Deputy Ó Cuív will be aware, I have an open mind on matters.

The proposals outlined in the Putting People First - Action Programme for Effective Local Government seek to position local government as the primary vehicle of governance and public service at local level. I thought Deputy Ó Cuív would welcome that development concerning a democratic input at local level. The proposals are leading in terms of economic, social and community development, delivering efficient and good value services, and representing citizens and local communities effectively and accountably.

As part of the programme of reform of local government, local community development committees or LCDCs are being established in all local authority areas. These committees, comprising public-private socio-economic interests, will have responsibility for local and community development programmes on an area basis, including the new social inclusion and community activation programme, SICAP. They will develop, co-ordinate and implement a coherent and integrated approach to local and community development than heretofore. I know that Deputy Ó Cuív will welcome that because he started the process himself.

In accordance with the public spending code, best practice internationally, legal advice and in order to ensure the optimum delivery of services to clients, the SICAP is subject to a public procurement process. The process is a competitive one that is open to local development companies, other not-for-profit community groups, commercial firms and national organisations, such as the National Collective of Community Based Women's Network, NCCWN, that can provide the services to be tendered for to deliver the new programme. On the contrary, therefore, I am not withdrawing funding. I am giving an opportunity for all the groups I have just mentioned to tender for the SICAP programme.

The process comprises two stages. Stage 1 is currently underway. At stage 2 the LCDCs will procure the programme locally. Applicants at stage 1 must demonstrate that they meet the criteria for the delivery of services in the lot or lots applied for. Joint applications are encouraged and organisations of varying sizes - for example, smaller organisations working in consortia with larger organisations - are invited to submit joint applications.

Partner candidates have a role in the delivery and implementation of the programme. All such partner candidates must be identified in the qualification questionnaire and a contracting arrangement may be required between the lead candidate and any partner candidates. Candidates may rely on the resources of other entities in order to establish the suitability requirements on condition that they can prove to the satisfaction of Pobal that they will have these resources at their disposal when necessary.

All proposals received will be assessed in accordance with the assessment criteria notified within the application documentation and any contract or contracts will be awarded on the basis of bids received from qualifying applicants from stage one. Pobal is assisting my Department and the LCDCs in the preparation of tender documentation and the assessment criteria which will form part of stage 2. The closing date for receipt of expressions of interest under stage one of the process is 12 noon on 11 July 2014. I am not withdrawing any funding, therefore, but am putting the programme out to tender.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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The Minister is putting the total programme out to tender, but the reality is that under the rules it is not permitted for national organisations to do so. Tenders must be submitted, and can only be considered, on a county-by-county basis and only for the delivery of the programme in its entirety. It is not possible for the National Collective of Community Based Women's Network, NCCWN, to tender for this programme either nationally or to deliver women-specific programmes. It is disingenuous to say that the new system is the same as the old one, except that the Minister is putting it out to tender.

There is also a question over whether it was necessary to put this out to tender. The Minister will say that he received legal advice but I understand that subsequent to that advice the EU introduced a new regulation whereby social programmes do not have to go out to tender. The legal advice might be out of date, so that issue should be revisited.

The Minister could have had a national tender for certain programmes that are better delivered nationally. He makes great play of the fact that he is localising everything, yet he is the Minister with responsibility for Uisce Éireann. I am not arguing with him on this basis because one must take it case by case. The Minister argued cogently - as I would argue concerning Travellers', women's and islanders' programmes - that rather than doing them on an area basis and making the component parts so weak as to have no say, it would be much better to do certain things nationally.

I am asking the Minister once again to re-tender some national programmes for women, islanders and Travellers, which are specific cohorts that require a national programme.

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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I am surprised that the person who started the cohesion process, and ensured that we had an efficient area-based service with integrated delivery, is actually against what I am doing now. Deputy Ó Cuív will have to make up his mind what he is for and what he is against.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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I am for what I did.

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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His Topical Issues matter states that I am withdrawing funding.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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You are.

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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I am not withdrawing funding, so the Deputy is wrong. I am putting it out to tender on the basis of competition law.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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He is not putting that one out.

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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Hold on.

Alan Farrell (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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The Minister, without interruption.

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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I am putting the SICAP process out for tender on the basis of legal advice, which the Deputy often had to agree with when he was a Minister. When the Attorney General gave him legal advice, he did not ignore it. There was no prospect of achieving anything unless one proceeded on the basis of law. We must adhere to competition law.

The National Collective of Community Based Women's Network, NCCWN, is the umbrella organisation of the 17 community development projects which focus on disadvantaged women. It is possible, if they partner with others, to be able to tender for this process. We are not withdrawing funding. It receives funding under my Department's LCDC programme, as the Deputy knows.

I do not know where the Deputy is getting this misinformation. I wish to clarify that my Department has not notified any of the 17 projects, including the NCCWN, of any intention to withdraw LCDC funding from their organisations. Deputy Ó Cuív should advise the people who are in touch with him to ensure that they tender for the project and enter into partnerships, if they must in order to do so.

The public procurement process for the new programme is competitive and legally sound. I am obliged to do it and it is open to the local development companies to get on with the job.