Denis Naughten
Question:3 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation if he will make a statement on the future of the partnership programmes. [2865/00]
Ceisteanna–Questions. - Partnership Programmes.
Under the national development plan more than £400 million has been provided under the regional operational programmes in a special sub-programme for social inclusion. These moneys will be directed at activities currently carried out by the area based partnership companies and ADM supported community groups, the local drug task forces and the development groups of the Young People's Facilities and Services Fund.
Actions will be supported under the social inclusion measures on the basis of integrated local action plans, which will be formulated by the groups I have mentioned, as appropriate, in consultation with the Director of Community and Enterprise and the City and County Development Boards.
The regional operational programmes are being drafted currently and it is anticipated that they will be finalised in the first quarter of 2000. ADM Limited, has already initiated consultation with the area based partnerships and community groups on planning for the next programme.
I wish the Minister of State every success in his new portfolio and am sure he will do an excellent job with his brief.
Regarding the immediate future of the area partnership programmes, will he guarantee that the 800 jobs in the 38 partnerships and the 400 jobs funded by the community employment scheme will be secured until the new operational programme under the national development plan is finalised?
Yes. Significant funding has been provided in the NDP to ensure the partnerships can continue their work in local communities. Planning is under way and there will be a smooth transition from the local development programme of 1994-99 to the new regional operational programmes.
Will the Minister of State elaborate on what constitutes significant funding? Have discussions concluded between officials in his Department and officials in the Department of Education and Science on the future role of the partnerships in tackling educational disadvantage? If so, what recommendations have the officials made on the future development of these projects for disadvantaged youth?
A total of £400 million will be allocated under the national development plan and approximately 50% of that will be available for partnership and community groups. That is a significant amount of money.
The Minister of State may have misunderstood my question. He said that under the current programmes he has put significant funding in place to ensure the 800 jobs in the partnerships will be maintained. What is the amount of that significant funding? Have discussions concluded between his Department and the Department of Education and Science on projects for disadvantaged youths in specific blackspots?
On the Deputy's first question, I gather that as of now nobody has asked for funding to tide them over until the new programme begins. I am assured funding will be available to ensure there is a smooth transition into the next phase under the national development plan. There will not be a problem about that.
Regarding the Deputy's second question, I will have to come back to him on that. I will send him a note on it.
I understand the Minister of State may not be up to date on everything yet. His predecessor stated in the House last October that additional funding had been provided to partnership and community groups by ADM to tide them over until the new operational programme is put in place. I would like to know the amount of that funding? If he does not have that figure, he might correspond with my office on it.
I will communicate with the Deputy on the exact amount of that funding, but I am told that as of yet, nobody has asked for funding to tide them over.
That contradicts a previous reply.