Séamus Kirk (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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503. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he will reconsider his decision to subsume Leader partnerships into the new local authority structure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31409/14]

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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There is no intention to subsume local development companies, or LEADER partnerships, into local authority structures. What is envisaged, however, is a more integrated local development model under which local development companies and local authorities implement a more joined-up approach to local and community development programming.

This will be brought about through new Local Community Development Committees being established in each local authority area. These Committees will have responsibility for overseeing a range of public-funded local and community development programmes, and will comprise local authority members and officials, State agencies, community and voluntary interests, and local development companies.

As well as being key partners on the Committees, the companies will continue to implement programmes as they have in the past, subject to any public procurement requirements that will apply to those programmes.