Martin Ferris (Kerry North-West Limerick, Sinn Fein)
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747. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government in view of the recent comments by the Minister of State with responsibility for rural affairs to the Joint Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht, the role envisaged for Comhar na hOileáin in the future; and his plans to disband it. [14017/15]

Ann Phelan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Labour)
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I recently briefed the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht on community and rural development issues. On that occasion, I emphasised to the Committee my commitment to supporting and building strong sustainable communities, including island communities. This remains the position.

In relation to the Deputy’s specific query, the Deputy should note that Comhar na nOileáin is an independent Local Development Company and that the matters raised in relation to the future role and the disbanding of that company, are matters solely for the Board of that company to manage.

I can confirm that Comhar na nOileán did not win funding under the recent Social Inclusion Community Activation Programme (SICAP) procurement process similar to the funding which it received under the Local and Community Development Programme (LCDP) and therefore, I have agreed to extend LCDP funding for a further six weeks to enable the company wind up the LCDP element of the company in an orderly manner.

In recognising the status of island communities a revised scheme to support the non-Gaeltacht islands has been agreed between my Department and the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht. I am advised that the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht will now commence an engagement process with island communities in relation to the new scheme, which will involve engagement with Comhar na nOileán.

In relation to the LEADER element of the Rural Development Programme 2014-2020, under the EU regulatory framework governing the programme, each EU Member State must conduct an open and transparent process to select both the Local Development Strategies and the Local Action Group(s) for each sub-regional area. Accordingly, my Department recently launched the Expressions of Interest (EOI) process for the programme and any entity, including Comhar na hOileáin, wishing to be considered as a Local Action Group for their area has until 15 May 2015 to submit an EOI. It should be noted that Local Action Groups and Local Development Strategies will be selected by an independent selection committee, established specifically for that purpose. In that context, it would not be appropriate for me to speculate as to the outcome of the LEADER selection process.