Vol. 569 No. 4
79 Mr. Crawford asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the position regarding the consultation process on the future of Leader programme partnerships, community groups funding and structures; if the IPA has issued its report; if not, when it is expected; if he has satisfied himself that sufficient consultation has taken place at regional level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17868/03]
I refer the Deputy to replies to earlier questions on this matter, in particular my reply to questions on 26 March and Question No. 429 on 15 April 2003.
As I indicated in these replies, a comprehensive consultation process is at the heart of the review of structures that my colleagues the Ministers for Environment, Heritage and Local Government and Justice, Equality and Law Reform and I have initiated. This will allow us to draw on the commitment and the expertise of those engaged at a community and local level.
The consultation process was advanced by way of a national seminar attended by nearly 300 participants, which was held last week, during which I had an opportunity to listen to and discuss the views of many of the agencies active in this field.
It is my task now to assimilate the views expressed during the seminar and in the submissions received by my Department. In the meantime, my Department will maintain and develop its existing contacts with the various groups and agencies so that the process of dialogue and information exchange continues as we deepen our understanding on the issues appropriate for reform.
Taking these matters into consideration, I am satisfied that an adequate opportunity for consultation is being provided to all the interested agencies and bodies.
The IPA provided invaluable assistance and expertise in organising and running the seminar but it has no active role in the overall review. Accordingly it will not produce a report.
The Minister's mission is to protect and develop rural communities and ensure they are involved in the process. I received a full briefing on the conference the Minister attended and it was appreciated that he stayed for most of it. That conference, however, was held in Dublin at 8.30 a.m. It was not possible for those involved in rural affairs and who have other jobs or commitments to be there. Those that could attend appreciated the conference but, in all sincerity, coming from a rural area himself, was it realistic of the Minister to bring people into the centre of Dublin when this could have been done on a regional basis or, at least, in a rural setting? Perhaps it should not have been held on a Wednesday because of the Dáil sitting, but on a Monday or Friday instead.
Will the Minister give a commitment that no matter how these groups are rationalised – the Leader programme partnerships and community groups – there will be no cutback in funding from Europe? They support the European ethos of a bottom-up approach. It is not the direct responsibility of the Department but we must ensure money is not lost. A great deal of effort was put into securing funding for the Border regions and disadvantaged areas and whatever structures are put in place in the long-term, that money should be retained.
I could have been accused until now that there had only been a few meetings of the rural forum, one of which was in Portumna and one in Maam Cross, both rural settings. This meeting was held on a Wednesday because we wanted a number of Ministers to attend. The Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform attended, as did Deputy Noel Ahern, as the Minister of State in my Department and at the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. For that reason it was decided to hold the meeting in Dublin. It started at 9.30 a.m. and I stayed until 2 p.m., when I had an appointment with Glór na nGael. The attendance certainly indicated that most people managed to make the conference. I attended a city partnership last night and I hope to visit the Deputy's county some time during the summer. As I travel around the country I try to meet as many groups as possible because the formal setting is important but I often find I get more frank views in the informal discussions.
The Deputy can be assured that the Leader groups will remain intact to the end of the period to 2006. What happens after that is part of a bigger scene involving the reform in Europe and, please God, there will be even more emphasis on rural development. It is our intention to draw down all the funding available. In that context, however, I have had some interesting discussions with Leader and partnership groups working in the same areas on the possibility of either amalgamating or rationalising and being able to give a better regional service within the areas in which they function. That is the type of change I would like to see happen. When we have one-to-one discussions with the people on the ground, I am sure they will see the sense in moving that way but I want it to be voluntary, agreed and tailor-made to the requirements of a particular area, not some blueprint set down for the whole country. Change, properly managed, is a good thing. This is not about trying to save money but about delivering more services for the same money. The higher the quality of the service, the more chance we have of getting more money.
I am not against rationalisation but I want an assurance that money will not be lost because of a change in the structures.
No.
Was the meeting that took place in Dublin that day the final one or will there be more regional contact? There may have been many representatives from the professional structures of Leader and the partnerships but it was difficult for those involved at committee level to get away at that time of day and to that area.
I understand there was a fairly full attendance. As regards formal consultations, we will move on now but throughout the summer I will be visiting various counties. Various groups come to see me. I have an open door policy on groups coming to meet me and I find the dialogue more intense and more focused towards local needs when I meet them on that basis. The basic templates will be worked out fairly fast, but how that will impinge on each group is something to be worked out in more detail as we go forward. I assure the Deputy that the full money available for Leader will continue to be available.
What about the partnerships?
That is not part of my agenda. The full money will be available. That is not what we are about. We are about making life better for those who are meant to be availing of these services.
