Dessie Ellis (Dublin North West, Sinn Fein)
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Question 403: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans for the Tolka Valley and Ballymun Whitehall Partnerships, Dublin 11; and if he plans to implement any further cut backs to their funding. [30830/12]

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.

The Dublin City Local Development Company configuration, which includes the two Local Development Companies referred to in the Question, will be reviewed, in time, commensurate with the recommendations of the Alignment Report.

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.