Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the current position regarding the abolition of Pobal and merging of their functions with local authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37819/12]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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There are no plans to abolish Pobal, which delivers a range of publicly and EU funded programmes on an out-sourced basis on behalf of a number of Government Departments. It also delivers funding on behalf of a number of Departments involved in supporting services in the not-for-profit, community and voluntary sectors, and is in a unique position to bring considerable value-added because of its comprehensive knowledge of the sectors. The central administration and integration of services offered by the Company across the various programmes with integrated staffing resources, is a considerable strength which would not be easily replicated if Departments separately implemented programmes.

Pobal administers a number of Programmes on behalf of my Department, including the Local and Community Development Programme. In line with commitments in the Programme for Government, and in the context of the Comprehensive Review of Expenditure, I established a Steering Group last year to examine the scope for greater alignment between the local government and local development sectors. I am currently considering its recommendations, with a view to maximising efficiency and cost effectiveness in the delivery of services for communities.