Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he intends to review the proposal that local development companies would no longer be the delivery bodies for the disbursement of all local development funding once the current LEADER programme has expired; if he will explain the role that he envisages LDCs fulfilling in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4333/13]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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The reforms relating to local development, which I am now implementing, arise from Putting People First - Action Programme for Effective Local Government, approved by Government and published in October 2012; this incorporates the recommendations made in the Final Report of the Local Government/Local Development Alignment Steering Group. That report noted the number of local development entities involved with service delivery locally, including 51 local development companies implementing certain programmes for my Department and for other Government Departments and agencies. It also includes a range of other entities, apart from local development companies, involved with the disbursement of local development funding.

I appreciate the value of these local development entities. I anticipate their continued involvement in programme implementation on behalf of my Department. In recognising the key strengths of local development companies in particular, the Alignment Steering Group also noted the potential for duplication and overlap and, accordingly, the recommendations it made seek a more co-ordinated and integrated approach to local service provision.