Vol. 506 No. 3
18 Mrs. B. Moynihan-Cronin asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation the discussions or consultation, if any, he has had or plans to have with representatives of the area based partnerships, or the co-ordinating body, PLANET, regarding the future of the partnerships; when the position will be clear regarding continued EU funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15492/99]
ADM supported area based partnerships have in recent years been developing a new and innovative area based response to the needs of the disadvantaged, both urban and rural. The European Council recently agreed a funding package of community support for the 2000-6 period. While the outcome for Ireland was good, given the extreme difficulty of the negotiations, the level of EU Structural Funds available over that period will be approximately half that available to Ireland under the current Community Support Framework.
Work has already commenced on agreeing priorities for EU co-funding under the next National Development Plan, NDP, and on clarifying the Commission's new procedures for the next round of Structural Funds. There is also a separate national consultation process to be undergone, inclusive of the social partners. Until such time as this overall process is completed, it is difficult to give any indication of likely levels of EU financial commitments and programme support.
It is natural that there will be a degree of uncertainty pending the completion of the National Development Plan and the position to be taken by the European Commission as to its funding commitments to certain elements of the plan. The Government is, however, fully committed to the fundamentally important task of tackling social exclusion in deprived areas, and of ensuring that the overall objectives of current programmes remain a priority.
Whereas I cannot pre-empt the National Development Plan, my Department has made a comprehensive case for local development funding in the context of the drafting of the plan. The submission recognises the fundamental role of area-based strategies in tackling disadvantage.
The report of the task force on the integration of the local government and local development systems also envisages the continuation of area based local development structures within a more sustainable framework. The future will require the consideration and implementation of a number of recommendations in the task force report and those are, by now, well known to the groups concerned. Issues arising from previous performance, changes in deprivation rankings and the need to ensure that the needs of the real blackspot areas are being addressed are also issues which require consideration when planning for the future.
I am fully aware of the concerns of the area partnerships and ADM-supported community groups. In May, I had formal meetings with two groups from PLANET – one representing rural partnerships and one representing the chairs of partnerships – to discuss their concerns. My Department has also met with representatives of the ADM community groups to discuss post 1999 issues.
Funding for local development initiatives will depend on the financial envelopes available post 1999 under the new National Development Plan. I hope we can achieve clarity on these as soon as possible. Meanwhile the deadline for making commitments under the current Operational Programme for Local Urban and Rural Development is the end of 1999 with the spend continuing until the end of 2001 to ensure the successful completion of the current programme.
Why did the Minister of State not keep to the commitment he made on 17 May to officials from PLANET that, regarding their discussions and negotiations, he would return to them prior to their meeting on 10 and 11 June? Is he also aware that the contracts of more than 700 staff expire in December? This is the last opportunity to raise this issue before the summer recess. Given that the House will not reconvene until October, a commitment will have to be made. If 700 jobs were lost in a factory there would be calls for the establishment of a task force.
This is serious. I ask the Minister to give a commitment that internal funding will be made available to the partnerships to allow them continue.
I have met the two groups from PLANET involved, one representing rural partnerships and the other to which I have referred. I have made it clear that the Government strongly supports and recognises the commitment of the partnership process and the community groups under ADM as being a very successful way of tackling disadvantage.
I have undertaken to consider carefully the question of the interim funding arrangements to cover the transitional period and we are working strenuously on that issue with a view to reverting through ADM to the partnerships to clarify the position. I am also conscious that those working within the partnership structure require clarification as early as possible so that they can make career decisions.
I accept that this issue needs to be tackled. My Department has made a comprehensive contribution to the process of drafting the new National Development Plan. Local development is central to that issue.
Recognising the contribution made by Deputy Moynihan-Cronin, I have met the PLANET representatives and have heard the concerns. Both she and Deputy Allen raised this issue the last time we discussed it and I hope to be in a position to refer to them as soon as possible on the question of transitional funding arrangements.
Does the Minister of State have an idea of when it will be known if the funding will or will not be made available?
It is not known at present because it will be tied into the general framework which will be part of the National Development Plan, which will be published shortly. It would not be guaranteed that every partnership and committee support group would continue in its present format because they clearly would have to make their own applications under any new plan to a body, such as ADM, in order to determine whether they would continue as they are currently structured or there would be any departures from that, bearing in mind the progress made by my colleague, the Minister for the Environment and Local Government, Deputy Dempsey, with regard to the integration of local government and local development.
