Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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Question 100: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the improvements which have been brought into effect in regard to the local development social inclusion programme in 2005; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36946/05]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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The local development and social inclusion programme, LDSIP, aims to counter disadvantage and to promote equality and social and economic inclusion through the provision of funding and support to local partnerships. The programme is managed on behalf of my Department by Pobal, which was previously known as Area Development Management, ADM, Ltd. and is delivered at local level by 38 area partnerships, 31 community partnerships and two employment pacts across three sub-measures. (1) Services for the Unemployed: This sub-measure aims to support individuals in accessing suitable employment opportunities though actions in the areas of education, training, work experience, job placement, enterprise, self-employment and the social economy. During the period January to June this year, 10,607 people were supported under this measure. Of those supported, 4,497 participated in education and training programmes, 14% were placed into employment and 5% were supported into self-employment.

In addition, partnerships and employment pacts undertake initiatives that provide progression pathways locally for individuals, in conjunction with strategic partners and mainstream providers. These include the operation of outreach initiatives, job clubs, employment and training, mentoring and enterprise and social economy initiatives. A further 15,668 individuals were supported in this manner during the first six months of this year. (2) Community Development: Actions under the community development sub-measure deal with capacity building work that enables local communities to participate in the development of their areas. The development of community groups and new forms of local organisation to vitalise and strengthen the local community infrastructure in the area s of greatest need is a major element of the work within this sub-measure. During the first six months of 2005, 986 community-based projects focusing on target groups and 101 infrastructural projects were supported. (3) Community-Based Youth Initiatives: Under this sub-measure, actions take place that are aimed at enhancing the social and personal development of young people who have left school early or who are at risk of leaving school early. Many of the actions aim to increase the range of community based education and youth development opportunities available from early years through to early adulthood. During January-June 2005, 26,553 young people and 4,495 adults were supported under this sub-measure.

I have dealt with improvements in service delivery arising from the review of local and community delivery structures in PQs answered earlier today.