Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 141: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the position regarding a project (details supplied). [4322/08]

Pat Carey (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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The Project referred to in the Deputy's question has been funded through the Community Development Programme since 1999. This Programme provides financial assistance to projects towards the staffing and equipping of local resource centres, which provide a focal point for community development activities and to other specialised community development projects and initiatives having a strategic importance. The Programme is aimed at addressing all areas of poverty and disadvantage. Projects are concerned with the needs of women and children, those with disabilities, the homeless, lone parent families, the elderly, the unemployed, young people at risk, Travellers and other disadvantaged groups.

Core funding to the project in question is set at €120,483 for 2008.

Ned O'Keeffe (Cork East, Independent)
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Question 142: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if his attention has been drawn to a selection irregularity in the election of the board of East Cork Area Development; his views on whether the board as elected would stand for the term; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4339/08]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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As previously indicated to the house, the core objective of the cohesion process is to simplify and improve local delivery of programmes operated by my Department through the integration and alignment of local delivery structures.

The appointment of the members of the Boards of local development companies is primarily a matter for the Boards of the companies concerned. Given the significant public money dispersed through local development companies, the Department issued governance guidelines on the 1st of October 2007 that provide, inter alia, for a transparent selection process for nomination and appointment of members to the Boards of these companies. Copies of these guidelines are available on my Department's Website at www.pobail.ie.

Where the company concerned proposes to oversee the selection process of candidates from the community and voluntary sector, it is required to work with the relevant Director of Services for Community and Enterprise to ensure that no Community and Voluntary organisation active within its catchment area and registered with the Community and Voluntary Forum is excluded from the process and to seek the approval of my Department for the process proposed.

I understand that the company referred to by the Deputy held community director elections in December in order to include representatives from across its expanded catchment area. However, the company had not obtained Departmental approval for the selection procedure governing these recent elections because the selection procedure had not been certified by local Director of Services for Community and Enterprise. Officials of my Department are currently investigating the matter.