The Local and Community Development Programme (LCDP) is the largest social inclusion intervention of its kind in the State. The current Programme officially ended at the end of 2013, having operated for four years. It is being implemented by the Local Development Companies (LDCs) on a transitional basis for 2014 pending the roll-out of a new Programme in January 2015. Management of current contracts and Programme oversight will transfer to the Local Community Development Committees (LCDCs) of the Local Authorities from 1 July next. However, existing contracts for the Local Community Development Programme will remain in place until the end of 2014.
The new Programme to be implemented in 2015 will be subject to Department of Public Expenditure and Reform approval and compliance with the new Public Spending Code. The Programme, which is currently at design stage, will reflect the main findings of the LCDP Mid-Term Review and will be framed to ensure that it remains a locally accessible, front-line intervention for people most difficult to reach in terms of social inclusion and preparation for employment. The key change for 2015 will be that the new Programme will be overseen and managed by the LCDCs of the Local Authorities who will request tenders for its delivery in their areas.
The successor Programme will aim to build upon the existing infrastructure of the LCDP and maximise the potential of the new county structure to deliver a locally driven community development and employment Programme which has national reach and a clear synergy with the National Reform Programme. The National Reform Programme identifies national targets in each of the five headline areas (employment, education, research and development, climate change, poverty reduction), the main bottlenecks to reaching these targets and the measures necessary to allow Ireland overcome these.
In implementing a new Programme next year, my Department will do its utmost to ensure business continuity for the communities served. In that context, my Department will engage with all key stakeholders in the weeks and months ahead in relation to the new programme and the logistics of the competitive process.
