Mary White (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party)

I am responding to this matter on behalf of the Minister for Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs, Deputy Pat Carey and thank the Senator for raising it.

I welcome the opportunity to update the Seanad on the current position on the new local and community development programme, LCDP. As the Senator is aware, the local development social inclusion programme and the community development programme were the Department's two main social inclusion community development programmes. They came to an end on 31 December last and have been superseded by a new integrated programme, the local and community development programme. All community development projects, CDPs, and local development companies, LDCs, currently in receipt of funding through the LCDP, have signed up to implement the new programme in the context of the Department's integration strategy and to meet specified deadline dates. This includes the submission of a work plan by 26 March and an integration plan by 30 June. It should be noted that funding for community development projects this year has been ring-fenced and maintained at the 2009 level. In few other areas of public spending has it been possible to do this.

The Department has set out a national model involving full integration of CDPs with LDCs but made it clear that other options can be considered, that it is not a question of one size fitting all. However, alternative models will be required to meet a range of criteria, including a reduction in the number of structures, promoting the potential for integrated delivery of services to the public, supporting efficiencies and reducing the burden of company law compliance for CDPs. The only option not acceptable is one that seeks to preserve the status quo. Some models proposed by CDPs and other parties in the period since the launch of the LCDP have had to be rejected on that basis.

In recent weeks the Minister has been able to respond positively to possible alternative models brought forward by the Paul Partnership and Limerick city CDPs, HSE South and a number of CDPs in the Cork-Kerry area. While agreement has not yet been fully finalised in these cases, the Minister is confident that there is a real possibility that agreement will be reached. The position is that, unless a project has received provisional approval from the Department for an alternative LCDP integration model, groups were still required to submit their plans for full integration by 30 June. There are no plans to effect a general extension to that deadline. Additional proposals from other CDPs and LDCs, including Northside Partnership, the National Community Development Forum, NCDF, and others have also been under consideration. It is anticipated that any alternative model of the nature proposed, if agreed, could be used in a small number of specific areas only. The Minister, Deputy Pat Carey, wishes to assure the Senator that the Department will continue to respond positively to all constructive proposals that it receives, based on the specified criteria, and that the officials will continue to be available to meet project boards. However, a model that does not entail significant change is unlikely to meet the specified criteria.

It is important to note that, despite statements by some commentators, full integration does not mean closure of a CDP or the cessation of CDP activities in any given area. As has been stated previously, any worthwhile community development activity or service delivered under a CDP can continue to be delivered under the proposed new LCDP structure and by the same staff currently doing this work. CDPs may opt out of the LCDP integration process and decide to go it alone. In such cases, the Department would be supportive in respect of the retention of any assets acquired with programme funding and may be in a position to provide for some limited funding for a transition period, subject to certain conditions.

Despite the tone of some coverage of the redesign of community-local development programmes and the integration strategy, those involved in community development have nothing to fear from the new model. It is all about ensuring that front line services are maintained and that the important services currently being provided continue to play a vital role in strengthening our most disadvantaged and marginalised communities. In this regard, it is important to acknowledge the incredible work carried out by CDPs and LDCs, but communities and the challenges facing them change. Accordingly, our approach to those challenges must change. We need to look to the future.

I reassure all concerned that the Minister's focus remains firmly on ensuring that scarce resources are targeted at the most vulnerable communities through optimising our efforts and resources on the front line.