Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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1. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to ensure the local development companies on the non-Gaeltacht islands have adequate funding after the end of March 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3662/15]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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There have been island development companies on the non-Gaeltacht islands for some time which have been funded on a regular basis. They are seeking permanent funding through three-year or five-year schemes with an understanding that funding could be rolled over on review after that period.

Ann Phelan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Labour)
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My Department’s local and community development programme, LCDP, is the largest social inclusion intervention of its kind in the State. The current programme officially ended at the end of 2013, having operated for four years with funding of €281 million over that period. It is being implemented on a transitional basis for 2014 with a budget of €47 million pending the roll-out of the new social inclusion and community activation programme, SICAP, in April 2015.

My Department provides LCDP funding to Comhar na nOileán Teoranta, the local development company for the islands, for the delivery of LCDP to offshore islands. In terms of the successor programme, SICAP, the intention is that island areas would be eligible for inclusion in the tendering process currently under way and due to be completed in February 2015. SICAP funding allocations are informed by a specific resource allocation model, or RAM, which focuses on relative disadvantage of individual areas.

Discussions have taken place recently between my Department and the Department of Arts, Heritage and Gaeltacht, which has lead responsibility for the islands, in response to issues raised regarding the continuation of funding for the development offices on several non-Gaeltacht Islands. This reflected the fact that the issues involved are broader than just those relating to SICAP. Both Departments fully understand the importance of the community development infrastructure on these islands. Along with my colleague, the Minister of State at the Department of Arts, Heritage and Gaeltacht with special responsibility for Gaeltacht affairs, Deputy Joe McHugh, I will be ensuring both our Departments agree a workable solution in the matter. In the meantime, LCDP funding for the groups concerned will continue until the end of March 2015.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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I welcome the vague assurances from the Minister of State but the clock is ticking. As she knows with employment law, etc., unless there is certainty of funding and the amount of it, protective notice will have to be given to the staff, many of them long serving, of the development companies in question. The Minister of State has not given any indication of the amount of money being made available, whether all the companies that received funding in the past will continue to be funded and what term of funding will be involved. There have been months of opportunity to deal with this. I raised this with the Minister of State’s predecessor, the former Minister, Phil Hogan, over a long time. I was assured then that the islands, particularly the non-Gaeltacht islands, would not be left in this situation.

Can the Minister of State tell me when an announcement will be made? Will she indicate the amounts of money that will be involved? Will she indicate the term of the funding involved? Will it be a three-year, five-year or an eight-year programme?

Ann Phelan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Labour)
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The Deputy's concerns and those of the islands have been taken on board. We are working together with the two Departments. I am precluded from saying anything while we are in the tendering process. I am sure the Deputy understands this. Once we are through the tendering process, timelines and funding will become apparent and I will then inform the Deputy.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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I understood from the Minister of State's reply that the funding for the development companies on the non-Gaeltacht islands would not come under SICAP as the tender will not cover the type of activity mainly covered by these development companies. These are broad development companies which assist everybody on the islands. They tend to become the liaison point for all government services on the islands. In what way is the tendering process holding this up when it will not be part of it? When will a decision be made on the tendering processes, as it was meant to be over a long time ago? How much money will be set aside for this? For what length of time will the programmes run?

Ann Phelan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Labour)
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As the tendering process is taking place, I am precluded from saying anything specific. The Deputy's concerns and those of the islands have been taken on board. Along with the Minister of State, Deputy Joe McHugh, I am working through these concerns. When the tendering process is over - which will be very soon - I will then be in a position to let the Deputy have more detail.