Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 386: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the planned cuts in the combined budget of community development and local development social inclusion; the impact it will have on numbers employed in the programmes; the number of clients served in various categories in Dublin; his plans to protect projects which are of particular high social value; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8021/10]

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 re-design 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 had 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 These programmes came to an end on 31 December 2009 and have been superseded by a new programme, the Local and Community Development Programme (LCDP).

Funding of €67.5m has been made available in 2010 for the LCDP, which will provide a more efficient and streamlined social inclusion service to those people in the country who need it most. 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. The new programme preserves 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 for LCDP roll-out over the course of 2010. Under the new programme, local development companies will be able to identify and meet the needs of communities and I have asked that particular attention be given to RAPID areas and to those areas where a CDP is no longer operating. My Department and Pobal will be providing a range of supports to ensure the process is successful.

In advance of proceeding to establish the LCDP, my Department undertook an evaluation of individual CDPs. 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 fell into this category and were provided funding under the new programme in 2010.

Where projects were not recommended for continued funding, an appropriate appeals mechanism was provided and a CDP Appeals Board established. The Appeals Board completed its work on 29 January 2010 and its report has been published on my Department's website at www.pobail.ie.

Following the initial review by my Department, 29 projects were deemed non-viable. Of these, 24 projects submitted an appeal to the CDP Appeals Board, of which 10 were successful. Some 23 full-time staff equivalents in total were funded within the 14 projects that were unsuccessful in their appeals.

The Deputy will appreciate that it is now a matter for the voluntary boards of management in each case to decide the future strategy for their companies in light of the decisions of the Appeals Board. My officials have been in contact with each of the projects concerned and have indicated that if the company decides to cease operations and to wind-up, my Department will, without prejudice, seek to assist the directors in discharging their statutory responsibilities. While such assistance could include limited financial assistance in appropriate circumstances, due account would have to be taken of the nature and extent of any net liabilities incurred by the companies and the financial and regulatory limitations applicable to my Department.

While my Department is not the employer and has no role in employment matters in relation to CDPs, I understand that the number of core staff (full-time equivalents) employed by CDPs that have been successful in obtaining funding under the new LCDP for 2010 is of the order of 290.

It is intended that the new programme will be implemented nationally on an integrated basis and through new integrated structural arrangements involving the 53 local development companies and the remaining CDPs. As I have previously indicated, my primary concern is to make every effort to ensure that the front-line services provided by, or supported through, my Department - especially those providing tangible benefits for the most disadvantaged communities - are protected.

In regard to the number of clients served in various categories in Dublin, I am advised that overall figures for 2009 will be available in my Department's 2010 Annual Output Statement, which will be submitted in due course to the Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Sports, Tourism, Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs.