Clare Daly (Dublin North, United Left)
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370. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the present status of the partnerships programmes nationally; if they have been put out to tender; and the expectations staff working in this area have regarding their future employment with particular reference to the Fingal leader partnership. [22298/14]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Local Development Companies (LDCs) support the delivery of a range of programmes and schemes, on behalf of the Department of Social Protection, including Tús, Community Employment, Rural Social Scheme and enterprise supports to long-term jobseekers wishing to pursue a self-employment option. The companies also deliver JobClubs and the Local Employment Service for the Department in a number of counties.

The Department for the Environment, Community and Local Government are the parent Department for the work of the LDCs. That Department has published an invitation for the delivery of the proposed Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP) in each local authority area. My understanding is that the tender seeks proposals for the 31 local authority areas with a view to appointing competent firms to undertake the delivery of SICAP. It is open to the LDCs to apply. Issues relating the tender process and the implications for existing local development companies are for my colleague, Phil Hogan T.D. Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government.