Martin Ferris (Kerry North, Sinn Fein)
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Question 429: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if he will make a statement on the proposed rationalisation of Leader programmes and its implications for local accountability and control. [30151/05]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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Deputies will be aware that, arising from the tri-ministerial review of structures involved in the delivery of local and community development programmes, the Government decided that community and local development groups across urban, rural and Gaeltacht areas should be requested to bring forward measures for improved alignment of structures in their respective areas. Funding was earmarked to support specific co-ordinated measures emerging from this process.

The core objective of the funding for 2005 and 2006 is the alignment of local, community and rural development structures to achieve full county-city coverage of social inclusion programmes by the end of 2006. In rural areas, this will involve Leader and partnership, including community partnership, groups coming together to develop a unified structure where they have not already done so based, as far as possible, around county boundaries and, in city areas, around contiguous electoral areas, with strong linkages to community-based groups. The intention is to have simplified local delivery structures with improved coverage and levels of service locally.