Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
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494. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the difficulties facing local community development companies in drafting their next four year plans due to programmes mainly running during the school calendar year between September and May; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that they will anticipate negative fall-out for their clients, staff and programme delivery, especially if there is not a clear and reasonable road map that would allow successful transition into the next programme funding period, that is, 2015-2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9586/14]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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The Local and Community Development Programme (LCDP) is the largest social inclusion intervention of its kind in the State. It is a key tool of Government in providing employment supports, training, personal development/capacity building and other supports for the harder to reach in the most disadvantaged areas in society. The current Programme which officially ended on 31 December 2013, having operated for four years, will continue to be implemented by the Local Development Companies from 1 January to 31 December 2014, with management of contracts and programme oversight transferring to the Local Community Development Com mittees (LCDCs) from 1 July next.

The LCDP successor Programme to be implemented in 2015 will be subject to Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (DPER) approval and compliance with the new Public Spending Code. It is currently at design stage, and will reflect the main findings of the LCDP Mid Term Review and ensure that the Programme remains a locally accessible, frontline intervention for people most difficult to reach in terms of social inclusion and preparation for employment. The key change for 2015 will be that the new Programme will be overseen and managed by the Local Community Development Committees (LCDCs) of the Local Authorities who will request tenders for its delivery in their areas.

The successor programme will aim to build upon the existing infrastructure of the LCDP and maximise the potential of the new county structure to deliver a locally driven community development and employment programme which has national reach and a clear synergy with the National Reform Programme (NRP) and Common Strategic Framework (CSF). The above changes have been notified to all local development companies.

In implementing a new programme next year, my Department will do its utmost to ensure business continuity for the communities served.