Written answers

Tuesday, 20 January 2015

Department of Environment, Community and Local Government

Local and Community Development Programme

Photo of Martin FerrisMartin Ferris (Kerry North-West Limerick, Sinn Fein)
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551. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he will confirm that the local community development committees are not legally obliged, under the Local Government Reform Act 2014, to submit an expression of interest and prepare a local development strategy, in order to become the local action groups for the delivery of Leader 2014 to 2020. [2440/15]

Photo of Martin FerrisMartin Ferris (Kerry North-West Limerick, Sinn Fein)
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552. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if it is his policy to direct the local community development committees, through the local authorities to submit expressions of interest and prepare local development strategies to become the local action group, thereby displacing the community based local action groups. [2441/15]

Photo of Alan KellyAlan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 551 and 552 together.

A key purpose of Local Community Development Committees (LCDCs) is to coordinate, manage and oversee the implementation of local and community development programmes. It is the intention of Government that, in delivering on the mandate to bring improved coherence to local and community development, LCDCs actively pursue involvement in these programmes.

While the Local Government Act 2001 does not explicitly oblige LCDCs to submit an expression of interest or to prepare a local development strategy under the LEADER programme, a decision by an LCDC not to do so would be contrary to their intended role. The Act does oblige them to have regard to Government policies and objectives in the performance of their functions. Accordingly, as it unquestionably remains Government policy that each LCDC will apply under the new LEADER programme, they are required to do so.

The regulatory framework for the LEADER elements of the RDP requires an open and transparent selection process to ensure that the strategies and local action groups chosen are best placed to maximise the impact of the LEADER funding in each area. Strategies chosen will have undergone a rigorous independent selection process and will be selected based on open and transparent criteria. It is possible therefore that, in some cases, current Local Action Groups may not be chosen to deliver the LEADER elements of the RDP.

I recognise the benefits to the new programme for local development companies, and other community groups, to be active partners in the development and implementation of LEADER strategies. I will continue to encourage discussions at local level with a view to encouraging LCDCs, Local Development Companies and other interested entities in agreeing a single, coherent approach in each area. Where agreement is reached, and the LCDC is successful in the LEADER strategy selection process and is the designated local action group for their area, I would envisage that the existing local development companies will be key implementers of LEADER strategies.

While it is the Government’s preference for a single, coherent LEADER strategy in each designated area, my Department will fully adhere to EU regulatory requirements and manage a fully open and transparent selection process that does not preclude the emergence, or funding, of multiple LEADER strategies in a single area.

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