Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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Question 429: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the reason for a 49% reduction in his Department's Estimate 2007 for improved co-ordination of local and community services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41340/06]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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Arising from the joint ministerial initiative on the review of local and community development structures, the Government agreed a series of measures in January 2004 designed to improve arrangements under which community and local development initiatives are delivered and improve cohesion and focus across various measures. In this context, in line with a recommendation in the NDP/CSF evaluation report on county and city developments boards (CDBs) to support a strengthened social inclusion co-ordination function, funding for improved co-ordination of local and community development services was provided in the Vote of my Department over three years (2004, 2005 and 2006).

During 2004, a total of €3,248,600 was allocated to CDBs and Údarás na Gaeltachta in respect of proposals aimed at improving linkages and sharing resources by local agencies. In 2005, some €4,836,927 was allocated in respect of proposals for the improved alignment of local and community development agencies and the establishment of unified structures in provincial areas. This allocation included €1,463,400 for actions to promote volunteering at the local level. So far in 2006, €4,270,962 has been allocated for alignment actions and €300,600 for the promotion of volunteering at the local level.

At this stage, 24 of the local authority areas and na Gaeltachtaí have fully agreed the structures which will cover their areas from January 2007 and therefore the requirements arising in 2007 in relation to cohesion will be much reduced. While I am confident that agreement on local, rural and community development structures will have been reached in all outstanding areas by the end of 2006, owing to the impending end of the financial year, it is unlikely that it will be possible to allocate funding for implementation costs to all those areas in the current year. The provision of €2,200,000 in the Estimates for 2007 will be primarily focused on addressing requirements for such areas and also to meet any further contingencies identified by the local development agencies in relation to implementing plans for improved cohesion.

Provision for the Local Development Social Inclusion Programme will increase by 15% or just over €7m next year in the context of the expansion of this programme nationwide from January 2007. An additional €5m is being provided in 2007 to further support volunteering. Finally, the resources for rural development will increase almost threefold over the lifetime of the next rural development programme which covers the period 2007 to 2013. The improvements that I have outlined represent a significant improvement on the current level of resources available for local, community and rural development services.