Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal North East, Sinn Fein)
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137. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the fact that there is total confusion, chaos and competition among local community development companies, small independent community groups, Traveller organisations and the National Collective of Community Based Women's Networks as a consequence of the tendering process being implemented by his Department for the delivery of the social inclusion community activation programme; and if he will instruct his Department to withdraw immediately the demand that there be only be one lead delivery agent in each county, to ensure existing organisations are able in their own right to tender for their geographical area or community of interest. [27652/14]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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The Local Community Development Committees (LCDCs) currently being established in all local authority areas 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. My Department's Local and Community Development Programme is the largest social inclusion intervention of its kind in the State.

The current Programme having officially ended at the end of 2013 is being implemented on a transitional basis for 2014 pending the roll out of the new Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP) in January 2015. SICAP is one of my key priorities and 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 currently underway.

The public procurement process is a competitive process that is open to Local Development Companies, other not-for-profit community groups, commercial firms and national organisations that can provide the services to be tendered for to deliver the new Programme. Joint applications are encouraged and organisations of varying sizes (for example smaller organisations working in consortia with larger organisations) are invited to submit joint applications. Applicants at stage one of the tendering process must demonstrate that they meet the criteria for the delivery of services in the Lot(s) applied for. If a joint expression of interest is submitted, candidates are required to select a Lead Candidate which will act as the principal contact in respect of this competitive process and any subsequent contract.

I am satisfied that the procurement process underway is in line with best practice and that the procurement documentation on e-Tenders contains all the relevant information on the process. I look forward to the outcome of the process and the roll out of SICAP in January 2015.

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal North East, Sinn Fein)
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138. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the social inclusion community activation programme, for which local community development companies are currently preparing to tender, has no mechanism to protect the work done over the years with the Traveller community and women; if he agrees that this work is essential to promote justice, equality and community cohesion; and if he will meet with his staff dealing with this programme and ask that they ring-fence the combined budget for the National Traveller Partnership and the National Collective of Community Based Women's Networks and continue to work directly with these two structures to administer the budget through Pobal. [27653/14]

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, including the Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme.  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.

My Department's Local and Community Development Programme is the largest social inclusion intervention of its kind in the State. The current Programme officially ended at the end of 2013 having operated for four years with funding of €281m over that period. It is being implemented on a transitional basis for 2014 with a budget of €47m pending the roll out of the new Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP) in January 2015. The SICAP's aim is to reduce poverty, promote social inclusion and equality through local, regional and national engagement and collaboration. SICAPis one of my key priorities and its budget for next year will be decided in the 2015 Estimates process.

I am confident that supports for the most disadvantaged in our society, such as Travellers and disadvantaged women, will continue under SICAP.