Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

553. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the progress that has been made in establishing social economic committees; their terms of reference and what the make up of these committees will be. [27162/13]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Following the publication of Putting People First - Action Programme for Effective Local Government , an Alignment Working Group has been established to assist and advise on the implementation of the recommendations of the Local Government/Local Development Alignment Steering Group.

A key area of focus for the Working Group is the establishment of Socio-economic Committees and preparations are underway in this regard. I anticipate that Socio-economic Committees be established in up to 10 local authority areas in the coming weeks, with a full roll-out across the remaining local authority areas to commence later this year.

Guidelines and Terms of Reference for Socio-economic Committees are being prepared, with the support of the Alignment Working Group, and will be available to the 10 pilot or 'Frontrunner' Socio-economic Committees shortly. The guidelines will be developed and refined over the coming months based on the learning from the frontrunner phase, and final terms of reference will be made available for the full roll-out of Socio-economic Committees later this year.

Within broad guidelines being developed, the membership of Socio-economic Committees will comprise a range of public and private partners drawn from the local and community development sectors, civil society, local authorities and relevant State Agencies.