Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein)
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162. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide assurances that the capacity of Westmeath Community Development to administer Leader funding will not be diminished should it be consumed by Westmeath County Council; the way his Department is supporting community initiatives, workers co-ops and the broadening, grounding and deepening of agri-business in the midlands. [54656/13]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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The proposals for enhanced alignment between local government and local development are focussed on building on the strengths and capacity of both sectors, not a takeover of one by the other as suggested.  There are significant amounts of public funding involved in the programmes referenced by the Deputy and it is appropriate that my Department makes the most effective use of available resources for their management and delivery. Putting People First – Action Plan for Effective Local Governmentrecognised the strengths of local development companies such as Westmeath Community Development Ltd, while also recognising the need for enhanced local government involvement in local development activity. Through the reforms being introduced as a result of Putting People First, I look forward to the capacity of all key local partners being availed of in the effective implementation of publicly-funded programmes.

My Department administers a number of community initiatives, including LEADER, the Local and Community Development Programme, Walks Scheme and the Scheme to Support National Organisations. Details of all initiatives can be found on my Department’s website at