Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 21 May 2013
507. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he would deem the payment of an enhanced redundancy package to the former staff members of Irish Local Development Network, who were made redundant on statutory redundancy in February 2010 as eligible expenditure for the company to now make an agreed enhanced package to those staff; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24330/13]
View answerThe Irish Local Development Network (ILDN) is the umbrella organisation for Local Development Companies (LDCs). These LDCs deliver both the Local and Community Development Programme (LCDP) and the Rural Development Programme 2007-2013 (RDP) on behalf of my Department.
My Department is not, and never has been, the employer of the staff members of the ILDN. The individuals concerned were employed by the ILDN, an independent company limited by guarantee, and had employment contracts with that company. Therefore, any employment-related matters are solely for the board of the company.
My Department has an annual contract with ILDN, and this is renewed on the basis of an agreed and costed annual work plan. The funding provided by my Department to ILDN under the annual contract supports a range of consultative, networking, communication, information and promotional purposes, but cannot be used to fund the cost of enhanced redundancy packages with its staff members.
