Vol. 516 No. 1
5 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation if the regional operation programmes regarding area based partnerships have been finalised; and if he will ensure the area based approach will be continued in the new programmes. [6941/00]
The regional operational programmes under the national development plan are currently being drafted by the Department of Finance and I understand they will be finalised in the near future.
A special sub-programme on social inclusion will form an integral part of each of these regional operational programmes. More than £400 million has been allocated to my Department under the sub-programmes, which 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 drawn up in consultation with the director of community and enterprise and the city and county development boards.
It now seems the long-term strategic plan for 2000 to 2006 and the short-term plan for 2000 to 2003 will not be ready until the middle of this year. By the time they have been approved in Brussels and budgets allocated it will be September, at the earliest, before the plans are available for implementation. What arrangements are in place for interim funding for the partnerships until the funding from Brussels has been established? Can the Minister of State give some comfort to the partnerships who are losing confidence in the programme? Partnership staff are being headhunted by other organisations. Can the Minister of State guarantee that interim funding will be provided until the strategic plans are put into operation, which will not be until the end of this year?
Last month I assured the House that there would not be a problem with regard to interim funding and I repeat that assurance. The Department of Finance is still negotiating the community support framework with the European Commission. Its operational programmes must be in line with the agreed community support framework and it is anticipated that the regional operational programmes will be finalised shortly when the community support framework has been agreed. This will be done in a matter of weeks rather than months.
I agree that the community support framework should be agreed as quickly as possible so that there is no lack of confidence in the partnerships. I assure the Deputy that interim funding will be provided if necessary.
What are the Minister of State's views on the area based approach as distinct from the social inclusion approach? How does he intend to deal with the matter of child care, low income families, smallholders and education and training? How many of the partnerships has he met since his appointment as Minister of State?
My Department is responsible for community development, family support, youth services and services to the unemployed. Child care is not part of my responsibility. I have met three or four partnerships so far. I met the chairpersons of all the local drugs task forces last week and I have met a number of them in their own areas. I have also met the ADM-supported community groups. I am trying to meet as many groups as possible to see what they are doing and to find out how we can support them.
