Trevor Ó Clochartaigh (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

-----when it comes to accountability and in many cases they deliver in a much more cost effective manner. When cohesion was being mooted in regard to the local partnership company in Connemara we did a cost benefit analysis that showed it was much cheaper to do this on a local level.

It is really important that the Minister put people's minds at rest on this issue. There are many local development companies that are very concerned about this being an agenda pushed by county managers and directors of services, not only in this Minister's regime but also in previous regimes. We call on the Minister to ensure that does not happen, simply because of the benefits. This process should be about putting citizens first. What discussion has taken place with unions in regard to the mooted alignment process? The experience of these companies during the past 20 years in addressing disadvantage, poverty and social exclusion is extremely important and must be continued. Tá súil agam gur thug an tAire ar bord na pointí a rinne muid agus go dtabharfaidh sé dóchas do na comhlachtaí seo inniu.