Written answers

Tuesday, 16 December 2014

Department of Environment, Community and Local Government

Leader Programmes Administration

Photo of Brian StanleyBrian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein)
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596. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he will confirm that the local community development committees are legally obliged, under the Local Government Reform Act 2014, to submit an expression of interest to prepare a local development strategy and to become a local action group for Leader 2014-2020. [47700/14]

Photo of Brian StanleyBrian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein)
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597. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if it is Government policy to direct local community development committees, through local authorities, to submit an expression of interest to prepare a local development strategy and to become the local action group for Leader 2014-2020. [47701/14]

Photo of Alan KellyAlan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 596 and 597 together.

Local Community Development Committees (LCDCs) have been established in all local authority areas for the purposes of achieving a more strategic, joined-up approach to local and community development locally.

As provided for under the Local Government Act Reform 2014, LCDCs have the responsibility for developing, coordinating and implementing a coherent and integrated approach to local and community development. This will include planning and overseeing local and community development funding, whether spent by local authorities or on behalf of the State by other local development bodies. LCDCs have been structured to conform to the requirements of the LEADER programme. In order for LCDCs to discharge their functions under the 2014 Act, it is Government policy that LCDCs should submit an E xpression of Interest (EOI) to develop a Local Development Strategy (LDS) and act as a Local Action Group (LAG) .

This does not preclude other groups from expressing an interest in becoming a LEADER LAG , and there will be an open call, appropriate for LCDCs, current Local Development Companies (LDCs) and any other groupings that wish to be considered. It will be made clear in the call for expressions of interest that it is preferable that one LDS emerge from each sub-regional area in order to support Government policy for a coherent and integrated approach to local and rural development. The sub-regional areas will be based on the 24 County Councils outside Dublin and Cork, with Cork County split into 3 sub-regional areas, and the three County Councils in the Greater Dublin area (Fingal, South Dublin and Dun Laoghaire/Rathdown) forming a sub-regional area.

LCDCs will be required to maintain local dialogue in the expectation that all groups interested in forming a LAG in a sub-regional area will continue to be encouraged to form a single LAG. My Department will continue to provide encouragement so that LCDCs, with LDCs as key implementing partners, can form LAGs for LEADER 2014-2020, as in order to enhance rural development, it is preferable that there be coordination between local authorities and entities supporting local development so that there are better outcomes for the areas concerned.

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