Gerald Nash (Louth, Labour)
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558. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the reason he has decided that the LCDP measure must go to tender whereas the RDP measure will not; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22920/14]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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The LEADER element of the Rural Development Programme (RDP) is delivered using a Community Led Local Development (CLLD) approach in accordance with EU Regulation 1303/2013. Under the Regulation, Local Action Groups put forward integrated and multi-sectoral local development strategies (LDS) and the Member State then selects robust implementable strategies that will maximise the impact of the funding available to rural areas. My Department will invite the submission of LDSs in accordance with the Regulations in the second half of the year.

As regards the new Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme, which will replace the Local Community Development Programme (LCDP) in accordance with the Public Spending Code, best practice internationally, legal advice and to ensure the optimum delivery of the services to clients, the Local Community Development Committees (LCDCs) being established under the Local Government Reform Act 2014 will procure the new programme locally.

All proposals received will be assessed in accordance with the assessment criteria notified with the tender documentation and the contract or contracts will be awarded on the basis of that assessment. Pobal is assisting my Department and the LCDCs in the preparation of the tender documentation and the assessment criteria.