Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 30 Jan 2001

Vol. 529 No. 1

Written Answers. - Disadvantaged Areas.

Richard Bruton

Ceist:

1093 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation if his attention has been drawn to the trenchant criticism by the community workers co-op of the manner in which the targeted investment packages in disadvantaged areas are being developed; and if he will take steps to ensure the direct involvement of area based partnerships in the implementation of the initiative, the participation of local communities in all stages and an appropriate local delivery mechanism. [1328/01]

Bernard Allen

Ceist:

1094 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation the way in which he will implement the targeted investments packages in disadvantaged areas which will deliver 200 million to the most disadvantaged areas in the country under section 3.6.1 of the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness; and if he will use more appropriate delivery mechanism utilising an implementation budget to enable implementation teams in each area, involve the participation of local communities in all stages of initiative and the direct involvement of area based partnerships in the implementation of the initiative instead of the integrated services process using district electoral divisions. [1346/01]

Minister of State at the Department of Tourism, Sport and Recreation (Mr. E. Ryan)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1093 and 1094 together.

Framework III of the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness contains a commitment to identify the 25 most deprived urban and rural communities to which will be delivered, under a targeted investment programme, a range of measures aimed at economic and community development.

A proposal will shortly be made to Government regarding implementation and operation of such a programme. Once administrative aspects are finalised, there will be a formal public announcement which will identify the areas to be the target of support, implementation arrangements and the range of investments and supports available.

As part of the process of drawing up the proposal, consultation was undertaken with the social partners. One group within the community and voluntary pillar of the social partners expressed a desire for a more elaborate consultation, decision making and implementation process. The proposals which I will bring to Government aim to address these concerns particularly regarding the involvement of local partnership companies in the delivery structure. At the same time these proposals will also aim to ensure that agencies charged with actual expenditure, and provision of facilities and services, have the scope to act quickly and deliver an accelerated programme of investment in these communities. In consultations with the social partners, the Department has endeavoured to achieve this essential balance between local input into programme design, and identification of priorities, and achievement of a clear administrative focus, on the quick and efficient delivery of investment to address those priorities.

An implementation budget will be put in place to provide for the employment of local co-ordinators, and a central co-ordination team.

The use of the District Electoral Division was simply the starting point used to identify areas of disadvantage and was a useful unit in so far as objective statistics based on DEDs existed. This approach was accepted by all of the parties in the consultative process. The designated areas which will be proposed to Government will mainly consist of clusters of DEDs, in some cases sub divisions of DEDs and where necessary boundaries were adjusted to correspond to a local understanding of community, and to take account of deprived neighbourhoods which lie in close proximity to but not within a particular DED.

Implementation of the programme will involve a structure incorporating agencies currently responsible at local level for delivery of aspects of social policy, and consultation with the local community. I believe this structure will deliver an investment programme effectively and efficiently and is in keeping with Government policy in relation to the preparation and implementation of a strategy for economic, social and cultural development at local level by the city and county development boards.