Written answers

Tuesday, 7 March 2006

Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs

Community Development

11:00 pm

Photo of Denis NaughtenDenis Naughten (Longford-Roscommon, Fine Gael)
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Question 393: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the reason he is forcing the amalgamation of leader companies with partnership companies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8847/06]

Photo of Enda KennyEnda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 398: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the future responsibilities of the south-west Mayo development group and the western rural development group; his proposals in respect of the IRD groups, that is, Kiltimagh, Moy Valley, Connacht Gold; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9316/06]

Photo of Enda KennyEnda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 399: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs his proposals in respect of the future responsibilities of Meitheal Mhaigh Eo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9317/06]

Photo of Éamon Ó CuívÉamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 393, 398 and 399 together.

Arising from the review of local and community development structures which I initiated in conjunction with my colleagues, the Minister for Environment, Heritage and Local Government and the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, the Government agreed in January 2004 a series of measures designed to improve delivery of services locally and improve arrangements under which community and local development initiatives are delivered, to re-affirm Government's commitment to local and community development programmes, to improve cohesion and focus across various measures and enable communities more readily to access and make maximum use of the funding. In line with that decision, local and community development agencies were requested to advance improvements in linkages, cohesion and sharing resources. City and county development boards were given the role of co-ordinating the cohesion process. Cohesion funding of €3,248,600 was allocated during 2004 to support specific measures arising from that process.

The core objective of the 2005-06 round of cohesion is the alignment of local, community and rural development organisations to achieve full area coverage. The major advantage of such an approach is that the State will be able to deliver programmes such as the local development social inclusion and rural social scheme through these new unified structures because they will have all-area cover.

My preference is for unified overarching structures based around county boundaries where practicable. However, I am prepared to consider variations across county boundaries on their merits.

The intention is that from 2007, there will be one company providing both local and rural development programmes in any given area and fewer companies overall in the country. The cohesion process continues to be facilitated by county and city development boards and I have been able to support a number of proposals for integration of LEADER and partnership companies. Further proposals are being developed by the relevant agencies. I will be considering these proposals in due course. In addition my Department will be facilitating the process throughout the year.

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