I propose to take Questions Nos. 395 and 396 together.
The Local Government Bill 2013 provides, inter alia, for the establishment of Local Community Development Committees (LCDCs) for the purpose of developing, co-ordinating and implementing a coherent, area-based approach to local and community development within each local authority administrative area. The approach and structure envisaged for these Committees is consistent with the provisions for Community-led Local Development as set out in the draft Common Provisions Regulation for European Structural and Investment Funds 2014-2020. Given that detailed regulations for the management and control of such funds are not yet published, it would be premature to determine the funding distribution model to be used; however, any distribution model used will be consistent with all EU regulations.
The current Local and Community Development Programme (LCDP), which is implemented through the Local Development Companies, comes to an end at the end of 2013. A successor programme to the LCDP is currently being designed based on, inter alia, the main findings of the d-Term Review of the Programme. To facilitate the redesign of the programme and to allow for the establishment of the LCDCs in line with enhancing the role of local government in local and community development, transitional arrangements will apply for the first six months of 2014, which will entail the current LCDP framework being extended to 30 June 2014, on the same basis as the present arrangement. From 1 July 2014 the LCDCs will have oversight and management of the LCDP, based on the current programme framework. A new programme will roll out, through the LCDCs, from January 2015.