Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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488. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the changes that are being made to community development schemes; the number of schemes currently operating in Dublin North-East and Dublin North-Central; the number of schemes that have closed since 2011 in Dublin North-East and Dublin North-Central; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21447/14]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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The proposals outlined in Putting People First - Action Programme for Effective Local Governmentseek to position local government “as the primary vehicle of governance and public service at local level – leading economic, social and community development, delivering efficient and good value services, and representing citizens and local communities effectively and accountably”.

As part of the programme of reform of local government, Local Community Development Committees (LCDCs) are being established in all local authority areas.  These Committees, comprising public-private socio-economic interests, will have responsibility for local and community development programmes on an area basis.  They will develop, co-ordinate and implement a more coherent and integrated approach to local and community development than heretofore, with the aim of reducing duplication and overlap and optimising the use of available resources for the benefit of citizens and communities.

The Local and Community Development Programme (LCDP) is my Department’s main community development scheme which covers all areas of the country including the areas referred to. It is the largest social inclusion intervention of its kind in the State, having replaced the Local Development Social Inclusion Programme and the Community Development Programme in 2010. Total funding of €281m has been allocated to the LCDP since it was introduced 2010.

The current Programme officially ended at the end of 2013 having operated for four years and is being implemented by the national network of Local Development Companies on a transitional basis for 2014 with a budget of €47m pending the roll out of a new Social Inclusion Programme in January 2015. In 2014, over €10.7m has been allocated to groups to deliver services under the LCDP in the Dublin region; individual allocations are outlined in the table below. No LCDP funded schemes have closed since 2011 in the areas in question.

The new Programme is one of my key priorities and its budget for next year will be decided in the 2015 Estimates process. In accordance with the Public Spending Code, best practice internationally, legal advice and in order to ensure the optimum delivery of the services to clients, the Programme will be subject to a public procurement process, which is due to commence shortly.