Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 708: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the status of the decision to close a community development project (details supplied) in Dublin 12; if his attention has been drawn to the services provided by this community development project and the effects on the local community and the persons who availed or depended on the CDP. [1947/10]

John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
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As I outlined previously to the House, my Department has seen the need to redesign its community development/social inclusion programmes, particularly the Local Development Social Inclusion (LDSIP) and Community Development Programmes (CDP), drawing on good international practice and to support the ongoing evaluation of the programmes. Both programmes have a community development element and were delivered through separate local delivery structures. These programmes came to an end on 31 December 2009 and have been superseded by a new programme, the Local and Community Development Programme (LCDP).

The aim of the new programme is to tackle poverty and social exclusion through partnership and constructive engagement between Government and its agencies and people in disadvantaged communities. This will be underpinned by four high level goals:

· To promote awareness, knowledge and uptake of a wide range of statutory, voluntary and community services.

· To increase access to formal and informal educational, recreational and cultural development activities and resources.

· To increase peoples' work readiness and employment prospects.

· To promote engagement with policy, practice and decision-making processes on matters affecting local communities.

The new programme will preserve elements of good practice from the CDP/LDSIP Programmes and will enable groups to objectively demonstrate the positive impacts they are securing for local communities. An implementation strategy, involving the stakeholders, is underway in preparation for LCDP roll-out over the course of 2010.

In advance of proceeding to establish a single programme across CDPs and Partnerships, my Department undertook an evaluation of individual community development projects. Many of these projects span across two decades, with quite diverse activities. The objective of the review was to identify those projects that produce tangible, appropriate benefits for the communities they serve. The vast majority of projects fall into this category and have been offered funding under the new programme in 2010. Where projects were not recommended for continued funding, an appropriate appeals mechanism has been provided. I understand the project referred to by the Deputy have submitted an appeal and that officials from my Department have been in touch with them in this regard. It is intended that the appeals process would be completed before end-January 2010 and during that period temporary funding has been provided in respect of the basic running costs of projects under appeal, i.e., grant towards salaries and appropriate overheads.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 709: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the status of the decision to close a community development project (details supplied) in Dublin 10; if his attention has been drawn to the services provided by this community development project and the effects on the local community and the persons who availed or depended on the CDP. [1948/10]

John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

As I outlined previously to the House, my Department has seen the need to redesign its community development/social inclusion programmes, particularly the Local Development Social Inclusion (LDSIP) and Community Development Programmes (CDP), drawing on good international practice and to support the ongoing evaluation of the programmes. Both programmes have a community development element and were delivered through separate local delivery structures. These programmes came to an end on 31 December 2009 and have been superseded by a new programme, the Local and Community Development Programme (LCDP).

The aim of the new programme is to tackle poverty and social exclusion through partnership and constructive engagement between Government and its agencies and people in disadvantaged communities. This will be underpinned by four high level goals:

· To promote awareness, knowledge and uptake of a wide range of statutory, voluntary and community services.

· To increase access to formal and informal educational, recreational and cultural development activities and resources.

· To increase peoples' work readiness and employment prospects.

· To promote engagement with policy, practice and decision-making processes on matters affecting local communities.

The new programme will preserve elements of good practice from the CDP/LDSIP Programmes and will enable groups to objectively demonstrate the positive impacts they are securing for local communities. An implementation strategy, involving the stakeholders, is underway in preparation for LCDP roll-out over the course of 2010.

In advance of proceeding to establish a single programme across CDPs and Partnerships, my Department undertook an evaluation of individual community development projects. Many of these projects span across two decades, with quite diverse activities. The objective of the review was to identify those projects that produce tangible, appropriate benefits for the communities they serve. The vast majority of projects fall into this category and have been offered funding under the new programme in 2010. Where projects were not recommended for continued funding, an appropriate appeals mechanism has been provided. I understand the project referred to by the Deputy has submitted an appeal and that officials from my Department have been in touch with them in this regard. It is intended that the appeals process would be completed before end-January 2010 and during that period temporary funding has been provided in respect of the basic running costs of projects under appeal, i.e., grant towards salaries and appropriate overheads.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 710: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the status of the decision to close a community development project (details supplied) in Dublin 8; if his attention has been drawn to the services provided by this community development project and the effects on the local community and the persons who availed or depended on the CDP. [1949/10]

John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

As I outlined previously to the House, my Department has seen the need to redesign its community development/social inclusion programmes, particularly the Local Development Social Inclusion (LDSIP) and Community Development Programmes (CDP), drawing on good international practice and to support the ongoing evaluation of the programmes. Both programmes have a community development element and were delivered through separate local delivery structures. These programmes came to an end on 31 December 2009 and have been superseded by a new programme, the Local and Community Development Programme (LCDP).

The aim of the new programme is to tackle poverty and social exclusion through partnership and constructive engagement between Government and its agencies and people in disadvantaged communities. This will be underpinned by four high level goals:

· To promote awareness, knowledge and uptake of a wide range of statutory, voluntary and community services.

· To increase access to formal and informal educational, recreational and cultural development activities and resources.

· To increase peoples' work readiness and employment prospects.

· To promote engagement with policy, practice and decision-making processes on matters affecting local communities.

The new programme will preserve elements of good practice from the CDP/LDSIP Programmes and will enable groups to objectively demonstrate the positive impacts they are securing for local communities. An implementation strategy, involving the stakeholders, is underway in preparation for LCDP roll-out over the course of 2010.

In advance of proceeding to establish a single programme across CDPs and Partnerships, my Department undertook an evaluation of individual community development projects. Many of these projects span across two decades, with quite diverse activities. The objective of the review was to identify those projects that produce tangible, appropriate benefits for the communities they serve. The vast majority of projects fall into this category and have been offered funding under the new programme in 2010. Where projects were not recommended for continued funding, an appropriate appeals mechanism has been provided. I understand the project referred to by the Deputy has submitted an appeal and that officials from my Department have been in touch with them in this regard. It is intended that the appeals process would be completed before end-January 2010 and during that period temporary funding has been provided in respect of the basic running costs of projects under appeal, i.e., grant towards salaries and appropriate overheads.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 711: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the status of the decision to close a community development project (details supplied) in Dublin 10; if his attention has been drawn to the services provided by this community development project and the effects on the local community and the persons who availed or depended on the CDP. [1950/10]

John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

As I outlined previously to the House, my Department has seen the need to redesign its community development/social inclusion programmes, particularly the Local Development Social Inclusion (LDSIP) and Community Development Programmes (CDP), drawing on good international practice and to support the ongoing evaluation of the programmes. Both programmes have a community development element and were delivered through separate local delivery structures. These programmes came to an end on 31 December 2009 and have been superseded by a new programme, the Local and Community Development Programme (LCDP).

The aim of the new programme is to tackle poverty and social exclusion through partnership and constructive engagement between Government and its agencies and people in disadvantaged communities. This will be underpinned by four high level goals:

· To promote awareness, knowledge and uptake of a wide range of statutory, voluntary and community services.

· To increase access to formal and informal educational, recreational and cultural development activities and resources.

· To increase peoples' work readiness and employment prospects.

· To promote engagement with policy, practice and decision-making processes on matters affecting local communities.

The new programme will preserve elements of good practice from the CDP/LDSIP Programmes and will enable groups to objectively demonstrate the positive impacts they are securing for local communities. An implementation strategy, involving the stakeholders, is underway in preparation for LCDP roll-out over the course of 2010.

In advance of proceeding to establish a single programme across CDPs and Partnerships, my Department undertook an evaluation of individual community development projects. Many of these projects span across two decades, with quite diverse activities. The objective of the review was to identify those projects that produce tangible, appropriate benefits for the communities they serve. The vast majority of projects fall into this category and have been offered funding under the new programme in 2010. Where projects were not recommended for continued funding, an appropriate appeals mechanism has been provided. I understand the project referred to by the Deputy has submitted an appeal and that officials from my Department have been in touch with them in this regard. It is intended that the appeals process would be completed before end-January 2010 and during that period temporary funding has been provided in respect of the basic running costs of projects under appeal, i.e., grant towards salaries and appropriate overheads.