Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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Question 344: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the communications he has had with Pobal in relation to the budget cut in support moneys for the local development social inclusion programme following the supplementary Budget of 7 April 2009; the basis on which the individual cut to each programme was made; the way a cut of 8.25% to Wexford Local Development could be justified; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that this will result in staff redundancies in Wexford Local Development and will impact on the services provided; if an enhanced redundancy package similar to the one available earlier in 2009 to Pobal employees will be made available to affected staff in Wexford Local Development; if the balance of cohesion funding will be used to mitigate the effect of these cuts on services or to enhance redundancy payments above statutory entitlements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24644/09]

John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
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As with many Government Programmes and initiatives, the economic realities reflected in the recent supplementary budget allocations inevitably mean that the amount of funding available for my Department's Local Development Social Inclusion Programme (LDSIP) will be considerably less in 2009 than in recent years. In the context of a reduced budget allocation, companies have been advised that front-line services and support to customers/beneficiaries should be prioritised over administration, overheads and ancillary costs.

It is a matter for the boards of companies implementing the LDSIP to decide how best to operate with reduced budgets and to address staffing issues such as redundancy that may arise.