Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 13 November 2013
109. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the stages in the consultation process he engaged in with the Irish Local Development Network which will deliver the LCDP-RDP in the future; and if the administration of shared services will be done by local authority staff. [48472/13]
View answerMy Department has engaged with the Irish Local Development Network as part of the Alignment Working Group. The Working Group, which also comprises representatives of other stakeholders including the City/County Managers Association and Pobal, was established to assist the Department in the implementation of the Alignment recommendations as set out in Putting People First – Action Programme for Effective Local Government.
As part of its work, the Group has considered the future arrangements for the implementation of local and community development programmes managed by my Department. It is intended that these programmes will be implemented in the future by the Local Community Development Committees; however, a number of options for local delivery are being considered by the Group and I expect to receive its recommendations in the near future.
The Working Group has not yet considered the matter of shared service arrangements for future programmes, and I will await its work in this regard before making any decision. To ensure a continued focus on funding for frontline services, it is important that the future implementation of programmes maximise s available administration funding and all shared service opportunities.
