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Community Development Initiatives

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 18 June 2014

Wednesday, 18 June 2014

Questions (110, 111)

Thomas Pringle

Question:

110. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will consider allowing national organisations to tender for the social inclusion community activation programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26192/14]

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Thomas Pringle

Question:

111. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will ensure the viability of the National Collective of Community Based Women's Networks into the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26193/14]

View answer

Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 110 and 111 together.

The proposals outlined in Putting People First - Action Programme for Effective Local Government seek to position local government “as the primary 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”.

As part of the programme of reform of local government, Local Community Development Committees (LCDCs) are being established in all local authority areas. These Committees, comprising public-private socio-economic interests, will have responsibility for local and community development programmes on an area basis. They will develop, co-ordinate and implement a more coherent and integrated approach to local and community development than heretofore, with the aim of reducing duplication and overlap and optimising the use of available resources for the benefit of citizens and communities.

My Department’s Local and Community Development Programme 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 with funding of €281m over that period. It is being implemented by the Local Development Companies (LDCs) on a transitional basis for 2014 with a budget of €47m pending the roll out of a new Social Inclusion Activation Programme in January 2015.

The new Programme, the Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP), is one of my key priorities and its budget for next year will be decided in the 2015 Estimates process. The Programme is a key intervention for the harder to reach its target groups are:

- Children and Families from Disadvantaged Areas 

- Lone Parents

- New Communities (including Refugees/Asylum Seekers)

- People living in Disadvantaged Communities

- People with Disabilities

- Roma

- The Unemployed (including those not on the Live Register)

- Travellers

- Young Unemployed People from Disadvantaged areas

In accordance with the Public Spending Code, best practice internationally, legal advice and in order to ensure the optimum delivery of the services to clients; the Programme is subject to a public procurement process, which is currently underway.

The public procurement process is a competitive process that is open to Local Development Companies, other not-for-profit community groups, commercial firms and national organisations, such as the National Collective of Community Based Women's Network (NCCWN), that can provide the services to be tendered for to deliver the new Programme. Joint applications from candidates are encouraged and organisations of varying sizes (for example smaller organisations working in consortia with larger organisations) are invited to submit joint applications. Applicants at stage one of the tendering process must demonstrate that they meet the criteria for the delivery of services in the Lot(s) applied for. All Partner Candidates who are to have a role in the delivery and implementation of the programme must be identified in the Qualification Questionnaire. A contracting arrangement may be required between the Lead Candidate and any Partner Candidates. Candidates may rely on the resources of other entities in order to establish the suitability requirements on condition that they can prove to the satisfaction of Pobal that they will have these resources at their disposal when necessary.

All proposals received will be assessed in accordance with the assessment criteria notified with the tender documentation and the contract or contracts will be awarded on the basis of that assessment. Pobal is assisting my Department and the LCDCs in the preparation of the tender documentation and the assessment criteria.

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