Vol. 516 No. 1
9 Mrs. B. Moynihan-Cronin asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation when the regional operational programme required under the national development plan will be finalised and published; the role envisaged for the area based partnerships in the application of these programmes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7011/00]
As I mentioned earlier, 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.
Over £400 million has been allocated to my Department under the special sub-programme for social inclusion of the regional operational programmes. These moneys will be directed at activities currently carried out by the area based partnership companies and ADM supported community groups, the local drugs task forces and the development groups of the young peoples 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.
ADM Limited has already initiated consultation with the area based partnership companies and community groups on planning for the next programme.
I congratulate the Minister of State on his appointment and wish him well.
I do not think partnerships want to be merely another delivery mechanism as opposed to having a delivery and innovative role which will allow them, for example, establish pilot projects in their own areas. How will partnerships link in with other relative operational programmes at local level to ensure there is an integrated area based approach to tackling disadvantage? In reply to an earlier question the Minister spoke about the drugs task force. However, other disadvantaged areas may not need drugs task forces but rather transport, child care to allow women out to work, etc. Area based partnerships are concerned that they will be limited to solely delivering a small number of measures in the overall programme and will not be in a position to deal with issues on the ground in disadvantaged areas, particularly in rural areas.
I agree with Deputy Moynihan-Cronin and thank her for wishing me well. There is a difference between urban and rural areas and in many urban areas there is an overlap between drugs task forces and partnerships, although they are working together and doing much good work. Area based partnership companies have been advised that the current area based partnership structures will broadly continue as they are until the mid-term review of the programme in 2003. It is foreseen that the area based partnership companies, ADM supported community groups and other local agencies will work with the local director of community and enterprise and county and city development boards to bring about an agreed realignment of boundaries and work focus to comply with the recommendations of the report of the task force on the integration of local development and local development systems.
We must ensure there is no overlap and that different groups work together to deliver the services about which the Deputy spoke. If they do not deliver the services then the entire structure will fall short of its goal. It is up to other groups to ensure the services being provided are mainstreamed or that partnerships are allowed get on with their job. Partnerships exist because various Departments and other authorities were not delivering the services in those areas.
The operational programmes are currently being finalised. Will the Minister advise whether the issues I have raised will be included in the submission or whether area based partnerships will have an opportunity to tackle these issues which are a major problem in rural areas?
The Department of Finance and the EU Commission are putting together the Community support framework and will produce a draft document. They will then discuss the issues raised by the Deputy with the regional interests. I very much agree with the Deputy that the whole thing will be a waste of time unless the services mentioned by her are provided.
Do I take it that the partnerships will have an opportunity to examine the draft plans before they are finalised?
The regional interests, which I hope will work with the partnerships, will have that opportunity.
