Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick East, Fine Gael)
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Question 322: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if community development programmes will be retained and their activities continued in view of widespread concern over his plans for community development and local development programmes for 2010; his plans in relation to the Special Group on Public Service Numbers and Expenditure Programmes recommendations for cutting budgets to these programmes implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40189/09]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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Question 330: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if he will ensure that community development projects are maintained in view of the value for money they represent and the wide range of voluntary community work that is activated through the projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40575/09]

John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 322 and 330 together.

As I have previously indicated, my view is that a focused programme with a single integrated delivery structure is needed to maximise the impact of the local development programme and the community development programme, which serve disadvantaged communities. My overall aim is to ensure that, from 2010, having regard to the budgetary position, disadvantaged communities will benefit from a more focused programme with clear objectives, simplified and streamlined delivery structures and better-integrated actions, leading to significant administrative savings. The Department is undertaking a review of the community development programme. I expect shortly to have a full report on its findings and recommendations. I would reasonably expect the majority of projects to be endorsed by the review and to move into the new integrated programme. The intention is to preserve elements of best practice from the existing community development programme and local development social inclusion programmes in the redesigned model, to minimise structures and to enhance benefits for individuals and communities through significant administrative and overhead savings. Clearly, these developments are taking place at a time of extreme budgetary difficulties, the full extent of which will not be known until budget day. As regards the recommendations of the Special Group on Public Service Numbers and Expenditure Programmes, these are being considered by Government and no decisions have been made as yet.