Vol. 423 No. 1
44 Mr. J. Higgins asked the Taoiseach if he is prepared to guarantee deregulation from central authorities for the 12 area partnership companies established under the Programme for Economic and Social Progress; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Twelve Area Partnership Companies were established on a pilot basis under the Programme for Economic and Social Progress to bring forward community based initiatives of enterprise creation, education and training and community development. Each Company has prepared an Area Action Plan which sets out the strategy by which the objectives of the Programme for Economic and Social Progress, in terms of long term unemployment, will be achieved.
The legal status of the twelve Area Partnership Companies is that they are companies limited by guarantee under the Companies Acts. As a consequence the onus of decision making and responsibility rests with the Board of Directors of each Company. There is, therefore, no question of the Companies being regulated by central authorities.
