Joe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael)
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Question 402: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if he will provide funding for the completion of wheelchair accessibility to a building (details supplied); his views on whether there is a need for this funding in view of the building's importance to the communities that it serves; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36943/09]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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I am pleased to inform the Deputy that Manorcunningham Development Association was successful in their application for funding of €17,792.60 under the Rural Development Programme 2007 – 2013. The funding was allocated to the project in June 2009 and works are currently underway.

Donegal Local Development Company found that the need to make it wheelchair accessible was essential to the resource centre, particularly given it's proximity to the Irish Wheelchair Association which uses its facilities on a regular basis. I understand that the funding will make all the facilities in the resource centre, including the meeting room and computer suite on the first floor, fully accessible to the community.

Joe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael)
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Question 403: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the reason community development programmes will not be represented on partnership boards in view of the fact that the Changing Ireland report which describes the amalgamation of CDP and Local Development Social Inclusion Programme as a merger; the person who decides which CDPs are viable; the criteria under which they decide the CDPs are viable; the measures which will prevent CDP staff from being made redundant; the outcome of pertinent legally constituted companies and subgroups; if the review of CDPs has been completed; when the results of this review will be accessible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37143/09]

John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
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The Local Development Social Inclusion Programme (LDSIP) and the Community Development Programme (CDP) are my Department's two main social inclusion/community development programmes. Both have a community development element and both are delivered through separate local delivery structures.

I have already indicated that my strong view is that a single focussed programme with a single integrated delivery structure is now needed in order to maximise the impact of these two programmes, which serve disadvantaged communities. My overall aim is to ensure that, from 2010, disadvantaged communities will benefit from a more focussed programme with clear objectives and simplified and streamlined delivery structures. The Centre for Effective Services is currently preparing proposals for me in this regard, which will draw on good international practice and independent advice. I hope to receive this in the near future with a view to rolling out a new programme early next year.

The community and voluntary sector is represented on the boards Urban Partnerships/Local Integrated Companies and nomination from that sector and others is subject to compliance with a number of guiding principles and requirements. Information in relation to board membership and nomination is available on the Department's website at www.pobail.ie. Automatic representation for CDPs on the boards of these companies in the context of the roll out of the new programme does not arise at this time. I should also stress that my Department has no role in the internal operations of community development projects, which are companies limited by guarantee. Management of the companies, including staff matters and redundancy issues, are a matter for the Boards of those private companies.

In tandem with the redesign work, my Department is currently undertaking a review of Community Development Projects and will shortly have a full report on the findings and recommendations that arise from that review. While I cannot be specific at this stage about the impact on specific bodies in particular areas, pending the outcome of the review process, disadvantaged communities will benefit from a more focussed programme with clear objectives and simplified and streamlined delivery structures.