Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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Question 779: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the progress of the amalgamation of groups (details supplied); the time-frame for eventual merger; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1346/08]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy will be aware from previous PQ replies in relation to this subject that the core objective of the process is to simplify and improve local delivery of programmes operated by my Department through the integration and alignment of local delivery structures. The intention is that for the future there will be one local development company in any given area and fewer local development companies overall. This will provide full county coverage and eliminate overlaps and previous fragmented arrangements.

Following exhaustive consultations with and between the local agencies to develop the most suitable configurations of groups, Government decided on revised areas of coverage for local development companies in March of last year and clarified the arrangements in relation to the membership of the boards of these bodies in late July. LEADER and Partnership groups have been asked to give effect to these decisions and my Department provided detailed guidelines in October 2007 to assist in securing this outcome.

Companies involved in the formation of integrated structures, which envisage the merger of existing LEADER and Partnership groups, were asked to forward to the Department by mid December, evidence of measures taken to complete the cohesion process. In the case of the companies referred to by the Deputies and other groups involved in the alignment process, this deadline has now been extended to the end of January.

As I have previously indicated to the House, significant practical issues will arise for the new integrated companies following their establishment. In relation to the steps to be taken following incorporation of the new structures, companies have been asked to have regard to the European Communities (Protection of Employees on Transfer of Undertakings Regulations 2003 (S.I. No. 131 of 2003). These Regulations deal with the rights of employees in the context of a transfer of undertaking, business or part of a business from one employer to another employer as a result of a legal transfer or merger.