Section VII of the Programme for Economic and Social Progress sets down how the new area-based response to long term unemployment will operate.
On the ratification of the new programme, the Central Review Committee supplemented by representatives from the Combat Poverty Agency, the Irish Resource Development Trust and the Trust for Community Initiatives will meet and make recommendations to Government on the appropriate arrangements for the establishment of local companies responsible for the scheme in each selected area.
The Programme makes it clear that the implementation of the new area-based response will be based on a specific budget prepared by the relevant public agencies in consultation with the local community for each participating local area. In addition provision of £0.5 million was made in this year's budget to cover the managerial costs of the local companies to be established. The public agencies will work through the local companies to implement the integrated response modules. The agencies will be responsible for the delivery of their relevant module element within the local budgets and will, therefore, be responsible to the relevant Ministers for their part in the new scheme. The Minister for Labour will have general responsibility for the schemes which will be monitored and co-ordinated by the Central Review Committee.
The Central Review Committee will meet before the end of this month if the new programme is ratified. The pilot areas have not been identified but they will be determined in due course in consultations between the Central Review Committee and the Government.