Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 18 September 2013
907. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the future direction of community development here; where the money will be spent; the advice he would give to current undergraduates who are studying community development on which areas to specialise in now to enable them to gain employment in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37689/13]
View answerA key principle underlying my Department’s activities is enabling communities themselves to identify and address social and economic needs and problems in their own areas. There is a particular focus on supporting communities that are vulnerable, disadvantaged or under threat, and an adherence to the values of local participation.
I am advancing a Programme of reform for local government which includes measures to enhance alignment between local government and local development. The Action Programme for Effective Local Government - Putting People First represents a significant change in government policy in relation to local government and seeks to position local government as the main vehicle of governance and public service at local level – leading economic, social and community development, delivering efficient and good value services, and representing citizens and local communities effectively and accountably.
The vision and focus underpinning the Government’s decision is to achieve a more joined-up approach to service delivery at local level, with responsibility for what is being done – and being spent – in the area of local and community development devolved to local level. This will be underpinned by new local governance arrangements that will seek to enhance involvement by citizens and communities in the design, implementation and targeting of services. The new measures will see the introduction of Socio-Economic Committees in each local authority area which will be tasked with developing a 5 year City/County Local and Community Plan for its area encompassing all state funded local and community development interventions.
The Local and Community Development Programme (LCDP) is one of my Department’s main social inclusion programmes. The LCDP aims to tackle poverty and social exclusion in disadvantaged communities. It is a key tool of Government in providing employment supports, training, personal development/capacity building and other supports for the harder to reach in the most disadvantaged areas in society. It is a locally accessible, frontline intervention, supporting disadvantaged communities. The Programme will invest some €48 million in our communities this year. Funding for a redesigned Programme for 2014, with a renewed emphasis on targeting the harder to reach individuals and communities, is under consideration in the context of the annual estimates process. The new programme would also effectively contribute to citizen engagement in line with national policy.
There is a considerable diversity of roles within the community sector; any person studying community development has access to the services available through the various educational and academic institutions to inform themselves of career path opportunities. In addition, for some individuals experience of voluntary work is a key contributory factor in choosing a particular academic course and a career pathway.
