Bertie Ahern
Question:13 Mr. B. Ahern asked the Taoiseach the local development initiatives, if any, that have been introduced in 1995. [13779/95]
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Local Development Initiatives.
Developments during the year have related mainly to the implementation of the Operational Programme for Local Urban and Rural Development. The operational programme was formally launched on 2 February 1995. I have overall co-ordinating responsibility for this operational programme and specific responsibility for Sub Programme II, Integrated Development of Designated Disadvantaged and Other Areas, which is managed by an independent intermediary company, Area Development Management (ADM) Ltd.
In relation to the designated areas I have confirmed the boundaries of the 35 areas where the Partnership Companies will operate. This includes the new area as well as the original 12 pilot partnerships, six of which are being extended.
ADM Ltd. is proceeding with the process of assessing applications from community groups and sectoral organisations under Sub Programme II which were not covered by the partnerships and has recently allocated technical assistance funding to a number of community groups.
On 3 March 1995, I announced a new framework for the operation of community employment in the partnership areas. In these areas community employment now operates on the basis of an annual programme agreed between FÁS and the partnership.
The operational programme provides that in each county the local development initiatives will be co-ordinated through the mechanism of the county strategy groups. A liaison team has been established in the Department of the Taoiseach to contact the relevant organisations and groups, make arrangements for the first meeting and act as the link between the groups and the Department. To date nine county strategy groups have met.
A seminar "Working Together in Partnership: Local Development in Ireland" was held in Galway on 14 and 15 September last.
I have invited the OECD to undertake a comprehensive review of national policies to promote local development.
The URBAN Initiative is a European Union initiative intended to help find solutions to the serious social problems in urban areas. In July last I was able to announce that agreement had been reached with the European Commission that three areas in Ireland would be helped under the initiative. The detailed arrangements for the implementation of the initiative in those areas are at an advanced stage of preparation.