Brendan Griffin (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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260. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the number of local development companies that have been subject to Employment Appeals Tribunal hearings in the past five years; the names of those LDCs; the payments that were awarded in each case; the way the moneys were paid; the total cost to the State, including awards and legal fees and a breakdown of the settlements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51751/13]

Brendan Griffin (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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261. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the number of local development companies that have been the subject of complaints to all statutory labour relations mechanisms in the past five years and the name of the LDC in each case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51752/13]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 260 and 261 together.

There are 50 Local Development Companies (LDCs) contracted, on my Department's behalf, to deliver the Local Community Development Programme, with 35 of those also delivering the LEADER elements of the Rural Development Programme 2007-2013, throughout the country. These LDCs are independent companies with their own boards of management and memoranda and articles of association. My Department has no role in the internal operations of these companies and, therefore, does not have a role in relation to any of the issues referred to in the Questions. These matters are solely for the boards of the Companies to manage and address.

Under the Community Affairs (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 2011, certain functions vested in the then Minister for Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs were transferred to me, as Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government. These functions included the functions relating to Section 2(3) of the Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2007, providing that:

The Minister shall not be, or be deemed to be, an employer, within the meaning of the Terms of Employment (Information) Acts 1994 and 2001, by virtue of the provision of funding to a person or persons under any scheme.

Brendan Griffin (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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262. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the number of 2013 local development company programmes that have yet to be signed off by Pobal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51753/13]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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My Department's Local and Community Development Programme (LCDP) is managed and administered, on my Department's behalf, by Pobal. The aim of the annual approval process is to facilitate and promote a more co-ordinated delivery of the services provided by Local Development Companies under the LCDP, by facilitating complementarity between their individual plans and the County/City strategy for the area, thereby avoiding duplication of work, helping to address gaps, and, maximising the impact of programmes for local communities.

Following the 2013 appraisal process, undertaken by the County Development Boards, my Department and Pobal, 49 of the 50 LCDP plans have been approved. Pobal is working with the Board of the LDC in the remaining case to resolve the outstanding matter in relation to its plan. Following that process, Pobal will be making a recommendation to my Department.