Some five county-city development boards have now been established and have held their inaugural meetings. It is expected that most will have been set up by the end of March.
The CDBs will see local government and local development bodies, area partnerships, Leader groups and county-city enterprise boards along with the social partners and public agencies operating locally, come together to draw up and oversee the implementation of a county-city strategy for economic, social and cultural development. The strategy will be the framework for public services and local development activities in each county and city area. Pending the completion of their first strategies, by January 2002 at the latest, the CDBs will, from the outset, be expected to foster inter-agency co-operation with a view to avoiding duplication and ensuring that gaps in meeting the needs of the community are filled. In relation to the resourcing of the CDBs I refer the Deputy to my reply of 9 February 2000 to Questions Nos. 188 and 189.