Bernard Allen
Ceist:1 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation if he will make a statement on the future of the area based partnerships. [11718/99]
Ceisteanna–Questions. Priority Questions. - Area Based Partnerships.
Breeda Moynihan-Cronin
Ceist:4 Mrs. B. Moynihan-Cronin asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation if he will give assurances to the area based partnerships that matching Exchequer funding will be made available to ensure continuity for staff and projects during the interim period until the negotiations and decisions on the next round of EU funding are completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11790/99]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 and 4 together.
The European Council recently agreed a funding package of Community support for the 2000-06 period. While the outcome for Ireland was good given the extreme difficulty of the negotiations, the level of EU Structural Funds available over that period will be approximately half that available to Ireland under the current Community Support Framework.
Work has already commenced on agreeing priorities for EU co-funding under Ireland's next national development plan and on clarifying the Commission's new procedures for the next round of Structural Funds. There is a separate national consultation process to be undergone, inclusive of the social partners, while the creation of new authorities for the two new regions and the possibility of regional operational programmes add further necessary layers to the planning process. Until such time as this overall process is completed, it is difficult to give any indication of likely levels of EU financial commitments and programmes, including what their commitment will be to current EU funded programmes.
The Deputies can rest assured that the Government will not be deflected, however, from its commitment to tackle social exclusion in deprived areas and of ensuring that the overall objectives of current programmes remain a priority. In particular, very good work has already been done by the partnerships and ADM-supported community groups in developing a new and innovative area based approach, which is currently being considered in the context of ongoing work on local government reform.
Will the Minister of State take into consideration that 800 full-time staff are employed by the 38 partnerships throughout the country as well as 500 other staff under the community employment scheme? Has he taken into consideration that the partnerships are a national response to long-term unemployment and social exclusion in urban and rural areas? Does he realise that if an early decision is not made about them and if the uncertainty about their future is not eliminated, staff, whose skills and expertise have made the partnerships so successful, will be dispersed and lost to the scheme? Will the Minister of State give a guarantee in the House today that the 38 partnerships at present operating will survive under the next national development plan? Will he confirm if partnerships will survive in areas with Objective One status and areas that will not have that status?
The Government recognises the tremendous work already undertaken by the partnerships and ADM-supported community groups. That is a matter of record in any of the areas in which they operate. I agree with the Deputy they have made a significant contribution in their areas of responsibility. The future position of partnerships and the supported community groups will come into focus in the drawing up of the next national development plan. The Taoiseach indicated it is the Government's firm intention to continue to direct a focus of attention at areas of disadvantage, both rural and urban. Given the experience of the ADM-supported community groups and partnerships, it is important that focus should continue.
Regarding the future staffing arrangements of the partnerships, the drawing up of the next national development plan will have to take into account the issue referred to by the Deputy. That plan, which is driven by the Minister for Finance, is at an advanced stage.
Will the Minister agree there is uncertainty among staff in the partnerships because they not been given much direction as to the future of the partnerships? Will staff be laid off in the transition period – when the present funding has been used and the process is finalised – and recruited later if required when the new funding is in place? Will the Minister of State assure the partnerships that transitional funding will be made available to them until such time as this process is finalised?
No decisions have been taken with regard to the future funding of local development arrangements. That will be part and parcel of the national development plan. I ask the Deputy to take into account the positive comments I made about the role of partnerships and supported community groups.
Recently Planet, the organisation representing the area based partnerships, wrote to the Taoiseach outlining its legitimate concerns, as raised by the two Deputies. The Taoiseach responded in detail to its letter and he requested that I meet with its representatives and I intend to do so on 17 May.
Despite all the talk of the Celtic tiger, vast areas of this country are still affected by high unemployment and social exclusion. The Minister of State praised the partnership programmes and their performance over the past number of years, but mere lip service and praise are insufficient. He avoided answering part of previous question. Will he give a guarantee in this House today that the survival of the existing 38 partnerships will be guaranteed under the next national development plan? Will partnerships in areas outside those that have Objective One status survive? I ask the Minister of State to give a specific answer to a specific question.
I can give the Deputy a specific answer. It would be foolhardy of me to give a blanket commitment now such as that being sought by Deputy Allen and Deputy Moynihan-Cronin. That would pre-empt the national development plan. I can only put on the record the experience to date of the partnerships and the community groups and state they have made a significant contribution. That must be taken into account in tackling the issues referred to by Deputy Allen, particularly in relation to areas of disadvantage and neglect. That is the Government's firm intention. The Taoiseach stated we intend to continue to target these areas because they still have a considerable distance to go in terms of fighting and dealing with the effects of social exclusion.
I welcome the Minister of State's comments. I am sure when he meets representative of Planet on 17 May the main concern will be about the transition period. I am sure he will agree that is the main problem facing them. He said there will be a commitment to the partnerships but that EU funds will be halved. A large number of the staff are leaving the partnerships because of the uncertainty prevailing. Many members of the staff who have given their time and have valuable experience are concerned about the transition period. They hope the partnerships will continue in place after the next round of EU funding. They want a commitment to the partnerships in respect of the transition period and the funding to ensure that comes from central Government rather than Europe.
As the Minister of State responsible for area based partnerships, I am concerned whenever very skilled staff leave to pursue alternative careers. In this case there are a number of reasons for such departures. Individuals who have been part of the partnership process have benefited greatly by being part of it. Some of them are furthering their careers by availing of other opportunities that have opened up and they are entitled to do that. I accept any transitional period is always a period of uncertainty and individual members of staff may make decisions based on what they perceive to be the future. The national development plan will deal with the issue of uncertainty raised by the two Deputies.We are anxious to ensure the plan is brought forward as quickly as possible so that specific issues which cause uncertainty can be dealt with. A transitional period is difficult for any organisation. The Government is, however, committed to the partnership process and, through the national development plan, we will be able to continue that commitment, particularly in targeting the areas of neglect and social inclusion.
I will take into account the comments made by both Deputies when I meet Planet and indicate to its representatives that these points were raised.