Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 16 December 2004
152 Mr. J. Higgins asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if he is committed to maintaining the community development programme as an independent programme outside of the control of the partnerships or local authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33979/04]
View answer153 Mr. J. Higgins asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if, in view of research carried out by a company (details supplied) and the results of the community development programme’s own evaluation system, known as SPEAK, the CDP has been effective as a locally owned and managed programme in developing practical and principled programmes to combat poverty and injustice; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33980/04]
View answer154 Mr. J. Higgins asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs his views on whether the CDP represents good value for money and is a programme that supports active and equal citizenship with a social justice and equality ethos; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33981/04]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 152 to 154, inclusive, together.
The community development programme, CDP, supports locally-based groups involved in anti-poverty and social inclusion initiatives in their communities so that they can contribute to a process of change in their areas and improve the quality of life of their communities.
One of the unique and valuable characteristics of the community development programme is the management of projects by local communities. In this regard, projects are expected to ensure that the management committee is composed of representation of people from their target groups. This approach ensures that those who experience poverty and social exclusion have a real say in the responses developed to meet their needs and that such responses genuinely target those who are most at risk of poverty. Moreover, target group involvement in the development process is key to ensuring local ownership of projects and the promotion of active citizenship in local communities.
At present some 175 projects are participating in the programme in urban and rural areas. I recently announced an additional ten projects currently at pre-development stage for inclusion in the community development programme, with a total budget commitment of €60,000 each for their first year of operation.
The total funding allocated in 2004 to the community development programme was €20.6 million. The CDPs have also secured in excess of €20 million for their communities from other sources. The projects provide a wide range of activities targeting the most disadvantaged. These include: community-based child care for people on low incomes; training, education and adult literacy; homework and after-schools clubs for children in disadvantaged communities; health projects; advice and guidance for all sectors of the community and; meeting facilities and administration services for community activities.
Following the submission of approximately 100 projects within the community development programme of their 2003 annual report using the SPEAK, strategic planning evaluation and knowledge networking, software the following statistics have been produced. In 2003, projects supported over 700 other local issue groups. Over 1,000 people are involved in CDP management committees. Management committees are largely made up of representatives of the projects target communities. Target communities for the projects include the following: Travellers, people with disabilities, ethnic minorities, lone parents, disadvantaged elderly, disadvantaged women, disadvantaged young people, and other groups experiencing poverty.
Some 15,000 people participated in training and education courses organised by the projects. Over 30,000 individuals in disadvantaged communities used the CDPs services. Some 12,000 meetings of other local community groups took place using the projects facilities. The Government highly values the work being done by individual projects funded under the programme and the impact the work is having on countering social exclusion, as evidenced by this data.
Like all organisations receiving Government funding, community development projects are accountable to the State and to their communities for the management of such funding. In that context, the community development programme cannot be described as a wholly autonomous programme operating independently of its funders and other social exclusion initiatives. I am committed to protecting the distinctive local community structure and input of each of the CDP projects, while enabling improved linkages, dialogue and access to resources, across local and community development bodies. My Department is therefore keen to promote enhanced levels of co-operation between all the various stakeholders involved in combating social exclusion. To this end, I recently announced details of a funding package of over €3.2 million which will encourage realignment and worksharing between different agencies and the extension of social inclusion projects to give complete coverage across administrative areas.
