Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 6 Oct 1999

Vol. 508 No. 4

Written Answers. - Community Development Programmes.

Michael Bell

Question:

51 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the proposals, if any, he will bring to any forthcoming talks on a successor agreement to Partnership 2000 in relation to the promotion of social inclusion through the strengthening of the community development programme in disadvantaged areas. [18889/99]

Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs (Mr. D. Ahern)

I am very aware of the valuable work being done by community development projects on the ground. Since coming to office in 1997, I have increased the annual budget for the community development projects from £5.6 million in that year to £7.986 million currently. Support for community development continues to be an integral part of the Government's overall social and economic development strategy. Community development is the means by which the capacity of disadvantaged local communities and communities of interest to participate in mainstream development initiatives is increased.

The community development programme is a part of the overall framework of support for community development and family support groups provided by my Department. Support under these schemes ranges from small, once-off grants to three-year, renewable funding commitments under three main community development support programmes. These programmes are the community development programme, family and community services resource centre programme, core funded community and family support groups programme.

I am sure the Deputy will understand that I am not in a position to announce, in advance of negotiations actually opening on a successor agreement to Partnership 2000, my detailed position in those negotiations. However, I will say that these individual programmes need to be regarded as part of an overall package, rather than being treated in isolation in that or any other context.

I can also inform the House that I will be mindful of a number of different issues in looking at the further development of these community development support programmes. Firstly, there is a need to strengthen the existing support structures within the programme in line with the expansion in the number of projects that is already taking place – some 40 additional community development projects and 60 additional family resource centre projects coming on stream shortly. Secondly, there is a need to enhance the capacity of existing projects operating successfully at local level to have a real impact on the quality of life of the most disadvantaged communities.

Thirdly, it is important that there continues to be a focus in these programmes on the most marginalised in society. This latter point emphasises the importance in reaching out to specific communities of interest experiencing poverty and marginalisation, as well as geographical communities in need not currently supported under these community development programmes. Finally, I am concerned to ensure greater synergy between these programmes and other economic and social development initiatives operating locally, the current programme for local urban and rural development, in the context of the development of the next National Development Plan and community support framework for 2000-2006.