Eric Byrne (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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Question 482: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views on whether there is a clear opportunity to develop a coherent local development process which supports the delivery of the objectives set by the local and national government; his further views on whether local development companies, partnerships, will play a key role in supporting communities, coordinating, mobilising and delivering for communities on local and national government policies. [36033/12]

Eric Byrne (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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Question 484: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will support the partnership local development companies who enable an efficient and effective delivery of programmes, and importantly ensure that the community have a direct input to articulating their needs and having these needs reflected in a programme response by partnerships. [36035/12]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 482 and 484 together.

I believe there is a need for a more coherent and joined-up approach to service provision at local level, which supports the priorities of both national and local government. To this end, I established an expert Steering Group to provide me with proposals to develop greater alignment between local government and local development. The aim in this regard is to improve the delivery of services for citizens at local level and achieve greater efficiency and effectiveness.

In my own consideration of these issues and, I believe, in that of the Steering Group, there is a strong awareness of the valuable work of local development entities in their delivery of services for communities. I believe it is important that, in the context of potential reforms, we retain and develop community engagement and input to local and community development programmes and processes. I am currently finalising my consideration of the Steering Group's final report with a view to determining the arrangements that will deliver the maximum benefit for local communities.