Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 197: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if the cohesion process involved in the delivery of the new Leader programme has been completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44272/08]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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The cohesion process has been completed with the establishment of new integrated local development companies and the alignment of the governance arrangements of the 12 existing integrated LEADER/ Partnership companies.

The newly established companies are in the process of appointing CEO's and securing the appropriate transfer of existing staff and resources from the old LEADER and Partnership companies. The transfer of staff is being conducted in line with the provisions of Transfer of Undertakings legislation. Pending the completion of the formal transfer process, temporary local arrangements are being put in place by agreement between the relevant companies to facilitate the operation of the new companies.

As the Deputy will be aware, the completion of the cohesion process in respect of all of these companies, enabled me to announce on 4 November last allocations totalling €400m. under the new National Rural Development Programme. I look forward to the early signing of contracts with the individual companies and the commencement of the roll-out of the Programme.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 198: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the details of the 2008 and 2009 budget allocation for each of the various community and local development programmes operated by his Department; the number of groups and individuals involved in delivering each programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44273/08]

John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
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My Department funds, and in some cases administers, a range of programmes to enable members of communities to be active participants in identifying and meeting their own development needs, working alongside the Statutory Agencies and others involved in local development initiatives. Details of the various programmes, measures and schemes operated by my Department are available on my Department's website, www.pobail.ie

Details in relation to the budgetary allocation for 2008 and 2009, and the numbers of groups and individuals involved in the delivery of each of these programmes are given in the table. In the case of the Community Service Programme (CSP), it should be noted that the employees are among beneficiaries of the programme.