Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 195: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if he will clarify if his concern in relation to community development projects is with the reduction of structures with which they currently have a funding relationship, or if it is the reduction of the number of structures overall in the community sector, or is it the focus on reducing independent community sector activity or achieving reductions for the purpose of achieving savings in Department funded programmes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27282/10]

Pat Carey (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy will be aware, the then Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs was established in 2002 against a background of concern at the multiplicity of structures and agencies through which local and community development schemes and programmes were delivered. It inherited a number of local and community programmes with diverse structures, which had been operated under the aegis of several different Departments. Clearly, there was an inherent danger of fragmentation of services and the diffusion of resources.

The cohesion process initiated some years ago to address these issues resulted in a significant reduction of local delivery structures for a range of rural and local development programmes. Until last year, there were almost 100 partnerships/local development companies and LEADER companies operating. The cohesion process has resulted in that number being reduced to a total of 52 entities providing full county-wide coverage across the country.

My Department still has a wide agenda of reform to advance. The next phase, which is under way, concerns improving and joining up the outputs of programmes, as well as further consolidating structures. The Local Development Social Inclusion Programme and the Community Development Programme (LDSIP and CDP) were my Department's two main social inclusion and community development programmes and were delivered through separate local delivery structures. These programmes came to an end on 31 December 2009 and were superseded by a new programme, the Local and Community Development Programme (LCDP).

As the Deputy is aware, an implementation strategy involving the stakeholders is underway for LCDP roll-out over the course of 2010. Integrated workplans have now been developed by the local development companies and the CDPs covering all local development company areas. The next phase to the end of June covers the development of local integration plans for reduced structures from January 2011.

A key difference between the new LCDP and its predecessor programmes is the fact that, when fully implemented, it will be delivered nationally on an integrated basis by a reduced number of companies. My Department has set out a national model for integrated service delivery and structures at a local level, which would involve, among other things, the re-constitution of the voluntary CDP boards from the end of 2010. Each board would then form an advisory committee to the local development company and act as the voluntary management committee for the local project. This approach will preserve the community development ethos in areas and will not detract from the key essential services and supports being provided through the CDP. In addition, the new programme will enable groups to more objectively demonstrate the positive impacts and outcomes they are securing to meet the needs of local communities.

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.

Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 196: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if he accepts that the deadline of 30 June 2010 for the submission of integration plans is unsustainable, unfair and unjustifiable in view of the fact that he has not given a decision on any of the range of alternatives submitted by various areas around the country for consideration by him; if he will clarify if alternatives that have been positively assessed by his Department will become available as options for those in other areas of the country; if so, when this information will be made available to groups nationally in view of the fact that the deadline is 30 June 2010; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27288/10]

Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 197: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if he will delay the 30 June 2010 deadline for submissions for community development project plans until the information is clarified and available to all in the interests of enabling and facilitating the best outcome for anti-poverty, social inclusion and equality at local level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27290/10]

Pat Carey (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 196 and 197 together.

As the Deputy is aware, the Local Development Social Inclusion Programme and the Community Development Programme were my Department's two main social inclusion/community development programmes. These came to an end on 31 December last and have been superseded by a new integrated programme, the Local and Community Development Programme (LCDP). A key difference between the new LCDP and its predecessor programmes is the fact that, when fully implemented, it will be delivered nationally on an integrated basis by a reduced number of companies.

As the Deputy is aware, my Department has set out a national model involving full integration of CDPs with local development companies (LDCs), but has made it clear that other options can be considered and that it is not a question of 'one size fits all'. The only option not acceptable is one that seeks to preserve the status quo: some models proposed by CDPs and other parties in the period since the launch of the LCDP have had to be rejected on that basis. However, my Department has been able to respond positively to a number of other alternative models put forward by both LDCs and CDPs.

While agreement has not yet been fully finalised in these cases, I am satisfied that the real possibility for agreement exists. It is anticipated that such models, if agreed, would be for use in a small number of specific areas only. Additional proposals from other CDPs and LDCs are also being examined but are less developed at this stage. I can assure the Deputy, however, that my Department will continue to respond positively to all constructive proposals that it receives and that my officials will continue to be available to meet with the boards of projects.

All CDPs and LDCs that are currently in receipt of funding through the LCDP have signed up to implement the programme in the context of my Department's full integration strategy and to meet specified deadline dates (submission of workplan by 26 March 2010 and of integration plan by 30 June 2010). The position is that, unless a project has received provisional approval from my Department for an alternative LCDP integration model, groups are still required to submit their plans for full integration by 30 June. It is not anticipated that there will be any general extension to that deadline.

Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 198: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if he will give assurances that the approach of his Department in dealing and working with community organisations and the principles of the White Paper on a framework for supporting voluntary activity and for developing the relationship between the State and the community and voluntary sector will be continued constructive and positive; if he will give further assurance that his Department will enter into dialogue with the sector with a view to developing an alternative workable and respectful relationship to resolve mutually agreed problems; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27311/10]

Pat Carey (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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My Department is committed to the on-going development of supports to strengthen and underpin the work of the community and voluntary sector in Ireland. Indeed, the growth of the sector in recent years has been accompanied by a significant expansion of supports by Government.

Policy initiatives are underpinned by the 'Towards 2016' Partnership Agreement and the White Paper on a Framework for Supporting Voluntary Activity, which recognises the valuable role of the community & voluntary sector. The agreement notes that the great strength of voluntary activity is that it emerges organically from communities and points out that while the Government should not seek to control and be involved in every aspect of voluntary activity, it does have a responsibility to provide an enabling framework to help the sector.

My Department manages a broad range of schemes and programmes that support the wider community & voluntary sector. Details of these are available on my Department's website – www.pobail.ie. While, as the Deputy is aware, the Scheme to Support National Organisations in the Community and Voluntary Sector is currently under review in my Department, all organisations involved in the scheme are being consulted as part of the review process. Such a consultative and constructive approach is also a strong feature of other interactions between my Department and the sector (e.g. in relation to the area of charity regulation) and I anticipate that this will continue to be the case in the future.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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Question 199: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if, in his current review of the scheme to support national organisations in the community and voluntary sector, he will provide adequate funding to enable those national organisations working to alleviate poverty, exclusion and inequality empower and respond to the needs of disadvantaged groups and communities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27377/10]

Pat Carey (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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Funding contracts under the scheme referred to by the Deputy are due to expire on 31 December 2010. Officials in my Department are currently carrying out a review of the scheme and I hope that this process will be completed by the autumn. On the basis of the findings of the review, I will consider the options available to me. All organisations involved in the scheme are being consulted as part of the review process. It should be noted that I am planning to meet this week with representatives of 'Voices that Matter', a grouping of national networks and organisations in the sector.