Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

He should declare an interest. What we are proposing is compliant with EU regulations on the bottom-up approach.

In response to Senator Cullinane, this is the first time the community sector is being recognised in law as having a role to play in the local community area and that it will be a reserved function of councillors to adopt an economic and community plan. They are the people who are democratically elected. They will now be put in charge, by virtue of their democratic mandate to disburse funds, with others, to various projects. They will be the contract holders. What better place could one put funds from the public purse than the public accountability system of local government where there are existing structures in place and where a report must be made to the local government auditor without duplicating all of the audit apparatus that has been established over the years in the community sector? Community sector members will have the majority of participants on the local community development committee. They are in an even better position than elected members to influence matters.