Brendan Griffin (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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635. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide an update on the proposed alignment of local community development structures and local government. [27794/13]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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Following the publication of Putting People First - Action Programme for Effective Local Government, progress is being made across a number of fronts regarding the implementation of the Alignment recommendations. A working g roup has been established to assist and advise on the implementation of the recommendations and has had five meetings to date. The working group comprises representatives of the City and County Managers Association, the Irish Local Development Network and Pobal, and is chaired and supported in its work by my Department.

At present, the Alignment Working Group is focussing on the practical arrangements necessary to give effect to the new local structures , including the establishment of Socio-Economic Committees in each local authority administrative area. Frontrunner Socio-Economic Committees will initially be established in up to 10 local authority areas, with Socio-Economic Committees established across the remaining local authority areas towards end 2013.

My Department is also engaged with other Government Departments and agencies involved with local and community development programmes with a view to bringing greater coherence to programme implementation nationally and locally.

Other areas of the alignment recommendations will be implemented with the co-operation of the Alignment Working Group and other key stakeholders over the period to 2014