Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the measures taken by him to include the lesbian, gay and bisexual community within its community development programmes. [5915/13]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the measures been taken by her to include the lesbian, gay and bisexual community within its community development programmes. [4078/13]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Question Nos. 550 and 570 together.

The key objective of my Department’s Community Division is to facilitate integrated development at local level and foster vibrant, sustainable, inclusive communities, and to support the Community and Voluntary Sector in its contribution to an active, democratic and pluralist society. My Department continues to be responsible for a range of programmes and initiatives to support communities including the Local and Community Development Programme (LCDP). The objective of the LCDP is to tackle poverty and social exclusion through partnership and constructive engagement between Government, and its agencies, and people in disadvantaged communities. It is a key tool of Government in providing supports for the 'harder to reach' in the most disadvantaged areas in society.  The Programme is managed by Pobal on behalf of my Department and is delivered at a local level by the nationwide network of Local Development Companies (LDCs). Some €49 million will be invested in our communities through the Programme in 2013. LDCs promote and actively pursue social inclusion policies, through which all people within a community can be supported and encouraged to participate in the life of their community. Sustainable social, economic and cultural development for all members of the community is more likely to be achieved by fostering social inclusion and equality.

The focus of the work of the LDCs is on marginalised groups and/or disadvantaged areas, groups and individuals who live in geographical communities, or communities of interest, experiencing high levels of poverty and social exclusion. The LCDP identifies Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender People (LGBT) as a group experiencing inequality and discrimination, and recognises that where this combines with other factors it can result in multiple disadvantage and social exclusion. While the LCDP is not specifically aimed at this group, the Programme works to achieve full equality and inclusion for LGBT in Ireland, and protection from all forms of discrimination. In 2009, the Local and Community Development Division collaborated, in conjunction with the Gay and Lesbian Equality Network (GLEN), the Family Support Agency and Pobal, on the development of a Code of Practice for Community Development Projects, Family Resource Centres and Urban Partnership/Integrated Companies supporting LGBT Communities. Funding was also provided towards the launch and publication of the Code of Practice. This Code of Practice went a long way towards promoting awareness and understanding of LGBT through the LCDP and other social inclusion programmes.  Furthermore, as examples of assistance provided under the LCDP:

- County Kildare Leader Partnership supported the establishment of a LGBT Group in Kildare, and the opening of a drop-in service;

- An inter-agency action supports the delivery of an LGBT Youth Drop-in Project located in Wexford and Gorey - this is a long-term preventative action, aimed at reducing the incidence and impact of homophobic bullying in post-primary schools thereby reducing early school leaving and/or poor educational attainment; and the

- Galway Rural Development Company was involved in research with GLEN which identified the need for supports for LGBT groups in County Galway. The company now supports LGBT groups in County Galway through funding programmes that assist in the network and collaboration of various agencies.