Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 112: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the progress made in regard to improving the co-ordination of local and community development schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30718/05]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy 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 this funding for 2005 and 2006 is the alignment of local, community and rural development structures to achieve full county-city coverage of local and rural development 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 — 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.