Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 October 2013
417. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government when he will re-establish the Inner City Partnership in Dublin, as this has been promised repeatedly for a number of years and opportunities to tackle unemployment especially amongst youth in disadvantaged areas of the inner city are being threatened without this partnership mechanism; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42436/13]
View answerThe Dublin Inner City Partnership (DICP) delivered the Local Development Social Inclusion Programme (LDSIP) 2006 - 2009 through funding and coordinating the work of networks and other organisations supporting communities in the Dublin Inner City Area. The Partnership had an interim contract, through Pobal on behalf of the Department, under the Local and Community Development Programme (LCDP) which succeeded the LDSIP in 2010. In April 2010, the Board of Pobal decided to cease its LCDP contract with DICP in light of major concerns about, inter alia, weaknesses in financial controls and procedures, and non-compliance with Programme accountability requirements. Since then, my Department, in conjunction with Pobal, has ensured that LCDP services for the communities in the Inner City area have continued to be delivered in a coordinated manner through Pobal. Funding in excess of €1.4m has been committed under the LCDP to Community Development groups in the Dublin Inner City Area in 2013.
Putting People First – Action Programme for Effective Local Government sets out a range of reforms aimed at improving the delivery of services for the citizen, achieving greater efficiency and effectiveness and enhancing the role of local government in local and community development. 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 delivery structure for the LCDP in the Dublin Inner City Area will fall to be considered in the context of the new arrangements to give effect to the Local Government reform agenda.
