I propose to take Questions Nos. 201 and 202 together.
The Final Report of the Local Government/Local Development Alignment Steering Group, reflected in the Action Programme for Effective Local
Government
-Putting People First, recommended that Socio-Economic Committees should have responsibility for planning and oversight of local and community programmes, including oversight responsibility for the management and disbursement of local and community development programme funds, the matching of resources to priorities and achievement of value for money. The Report also recommended that Socio-Economic Committees, appropriately structured and working in partnership with the local development companies should be considered as the vehicle through which the LEADER approach is implemented for the 2014-20 round of EU Programmes.
Detailed arrangements regarding programme implementation, funding and administration were not addressed in the Final Alignment Report, but they are now being considered as part of the implementation of the recommendations. I look forward to the participation of key stakeholders in assisting and advising on the implementation of the alignment recommendations as part of the planned alignment implementation group. I anticipate that implementation will be approached in a way that promotes co-operation, trust and respect between the sectors. Future approaches regarding local development programmes are also significantly dependant on the scale of future programmes, including decisions yet to be taken at EU level. The planned alignment will see local development and local government as lead partners on the Socio-Economic Committees working in partnership with each other, and their communities.