Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 13 December 2005
325 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the reason the name of ADM has been changed; his views on whether the former body’s new name is confusing and too closely linked with his Department’s own website address; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38689/05]
Amharc ar fhreagraArea Development Management Limited, ADM, has been central to the management of local and community development programmes since its establishment in 1992. As part of the tri-ministerial review of local and community development structures, an independent review of ADM was commissioned which recommended a number of changes in order to better reflect the context in which the company is currently operating. One of the issues to emerge from the review was the fact that the name of ADM does not reflect the nature of its current programmes that are funded by the exchequer and focus towards communities.
In January 2004, the Government agreed a number of measures in order to implement the recommendations which emerged from that review. These measures included a fundamental reform of ADM to address accountability issues, to define its role as a delivery agent for Government programmes, to provide for the appointment by the Government of the board and chair and the change of the name of the company to Pobal.
In relation to the similarity between the name of Pobal and the address of my Department's website, I think the Deputy would agree, that in the context of the worldwide web, similarly named websites can arise from time to time. The important point, however, is that the website of my Department has a unique address which is distinct from that of the Pobal website.
The name Pobal, is in my view, particularly apt, and more clearly reflects the role of the new company in delivering programmes, carrying out assessments and doing other work on behalf of Government, for the benefit of communities around Ireland.
