Denis Naughten
Question:57 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation if he will ensure that funding continues for area based partnerships after December 1999; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19989/99]
Written Answers. - Sports Funding.
Work is well under way on the new National Develop ment Plan, but in the absence of final Government decisions on content, it is not possible for me to give any figures on future funding for local development type activities. 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.
Each Area Partnership-ADM-Community Group carries out its activities under a plan which is prepared by itself and approved by ADM. The current Operational Programme for Local Urban and Rural Development requires that all commitments to funding actions under these plans, are made by the end of 1999. Actual spend can continue, until the end of 2001 to ensure the successful completion of the current programme.
I understand the board of ADM has recently made allocations, including some recent extra allocation of ESF funds, to partnerships which should allow activities under current plans to continue into next year by which stage arrangements for implementation of the upcoming National Development Plan, including social inclusion measures, should be in place and operational. Therefore the 2000 Estimates will reflect that position and include provision accordingly for area based partnerships.