Léim ar aghaidh chuig an bpríomhábhar
Gnáthamharc

Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 31 Mar 1998

Vol. 489 No. 3

Written Answers. - Strategic Planning Committees.

John Gormley

Ceist:

181 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government whether recommendations will be emanating from his Department on whether nationally organised non-governmental organisations should be included in the strategic planning committees, currently being established throughout the country. [8338/98]

Michael D. Higgins

Ceist:

183 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if he is concerned that the terms of an advertisement placed by the local authority (details supplied) in Galway would seem to exclude bodies such as the Centre for the Unemployed; the discussions, if any, which have taken place to resolve these difficulties; and if agreement has been reached. [7836/98]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 181 and 183 together.

The process of establishment of strategic policy committees (SPCs), is under way in county and city councils. It is now a matter for each local authority to set up a committee structure suitable to their needs in accordance with detailed guidelines entitled "Strategic Policy Committees — Guidelines for establishment and operation" as issued to all relevant local authorities in November 1997 for distribution to members and relevant staff. They are also available in the Oireachtas Library. The guidelines are based on the work of a group which included local authority members, management, my Department and others.

The guidelines, paragraph 4.3-10 in particular, set out advice on the involvement of a range of sectoral interests in these committees, including the community, voluntary and disadvantaged sectors. The guidelines advise that groups from any particular sector should be active in the area of the local authority and/or have a county/city wide remit, or operate in a number of localities in the area.
The guidelines have since been followed up by a national seminar day on SPCs held on 5 February, 1998 to further assist local authorities involved in setting up and implementing SPC schemes. The proceedings, together with further guidance to authorities arising from the seminar including in particular the position of town authorities and their county SPCs, have been issued and copies of the document, "Focus on Strategic Policy Committees — Update March 1998: Guidelines and Seminar Proceedings", have been widely distributed and supplied to the Oireachtas Library.
It is now up to the local authorities to move ahead with the necessary arrangements for the establishment of SPCs, including the involvement of sectoral interests, in line with the guidelines and taking account of local circumstances. Decisions in particular cases are entirely a matter for the local authority concerned to whom any queries should be addressed; there is no provision for intervention by the Minister.
Barr
Roinn