Pearse Doherty (Donegal South West, Sinn Fein)
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Question 392: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will confirm that the Tallaght Area Partnership and the Clondalkin Palmerstown Lucan Area Partnership, Dublin, are to be merged; the date on which this merger is due to take place; the implications for funding, staff numbers and existing projects arising from this merger; if this merger will result in a loss of funding for the partnerships concerned and if so, the amount expressed in monetary and percentage terms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30615/12]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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My Department is responsible for a range of programmes and initiatives to support communities including the Local and Community Development Programme (LCDP). Both Local Development Companies (LDCs) referred to in the Question are funded under this Programme.

In terms of future approaches, the Programme for Government provides for a review of the delivery of local and community development functions by exploring options to improve the alignment of these functions with those of local government. Accordingly, I am keen to identify opportunities to enhance the alignment between local government and the local and community development programmes that my Department implements.

There is a range of proposals currently being considered with implications for both the local government and local development sectors, arising, inter alia, from the work of the Steering Group that I established on the alignment of local government and local development. In the context of on-going work on the reform of local government, I am considering the key findings and recommendations of the Steering Group, with a view to determining the future development arrangements which will deliver the greatest benefits for the citizen. Building on the range of reforms already underway, I intend to bring policy proposals to Government in the near future.

With regard to the two areas referred to in the Question, my Department has recently commenced a process of engagement with the stakeholders to develop a plan to achieve greater efficiencies and to protect, insofar as possible, front-line services and supports, through e.g. merger/rationalisation, or otherwise, with a view to establishing a single structure for LCDP delivery for the two areas in question. That structure should operate within the South Dublin County Council boundary. Deliberations are at a very early stage.

The 2012 allocation for the LCDP is €54.884 million. While unavoidable reductions present challenges to all delivery bodies in managing their costs for 2012, it is nevertheless expected that groups can continue to maintain key services and supports through prioritising resources at the front-line. LDCs were asked to consider how best to achieve the required saving, while maintaining services and staff numbers.

Budgets for the LCDP are communicated to implementing organisations on an annual basis, funding for 2013 and beyond will fall to be considered in the context of the annual Estimates process.