Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 139: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the extent to which he will engage with locally based community groups with a view to addressing and supporting areas of social and economic deprivation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37974/11]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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The Local and Community Development Programme (LCDP), administered by Pobal on behalf of my Department, aims to tackle poverty and social exclusion through partnership and constructive engagement between Government/agencies and people in disadvantaged communities.

The Programme is underpinned by four high level goals:

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

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

3. To increase peoples' work readiness and employment prospects; and

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

As part of the Programme's overall goals, the LCDP supports individuals into employment and self-employment through education, training, work experience, job placement, enterprise and the social economy in both urban and rural areas. Funding of €63.4m has been made available in 2011 for the Programme.

Two of the key Programme goals are focussed on education and training, particularly vocational training, and employment and self-employment supports. 80% of LCDP funding is allocated to these measures.

The Programme is implemented across the country through 51 Local Development Companies (LDCs), and prioritises the most disadvantaged communities, including RAPID areas, and individuals. These LDCs provide a range of employment services delivered to those who are identified as furthest from the labour market. Importantly, the services provided by LDCs are flexible, independent, locally based and non-bureaucratic. Knowledge and understanding of the local organisational landscape, and the development of networks and relationships, has led over the years to key successes in the provision of training, employment, self-employment and other supports.

My Department is also responsible for the delivery of Axes 3 & 4 of the Rural Development Programme Ireland, 2007-2013, with an allocation of €427m available over the lifetime of the Programme. The main objectives of these axes are to improve the quality of life in rural areas and to facilitate the diversification of the rural economy. This Programme is delivered on behalf of my Department by 35 Local Action Groups. In keeping with the "bottom-up" philosophy underpinning the LEADER approach, these groups are the principal decision makers in relation to the allocation of project funding in their areas. The Programme supports the provision of direct support for the generation and development of enterprise ideas and initiatives as well as support for initiatives which facilitate the development of sustainable rural communities.

My overall aim is to ensure that, notwithstanding the difficult budgetary position, disadvantaged communities will benefit from a more focused programme and better integrated actions. My primary concern in this most difficult economic climate is to make every effort to ensure the front-line services provided by or supported through my Department, especially those focused on the needs of the most disadvantaged communities, are protected and to minimise overheads and ancillary costs.