Arising from the joint Ministerial initiative on the review of local and community development structures, the Government agreed a series of measures in January 2004 designed to improve arrangements under which community and local development initiatives are delivered and improve cohesion and focus across various measures. I have led the cohesion process, which is informed by the following guiding principles:
Improving on the ground services
Streamlining structures so as to avoid overlaps, duplication and undue administrative overheads
Bringing transparency, co-ordination and improved control to the funding and operation of local and community development measures;
Strengthening the democratic accountability of agencies and service providers in this area.
Informed by proposals developed by Partnership and LEADER companies on the ground, the Government in July confirmed the arrangements that will ensure full coverage of the State by the local service providers and agencies that operate local development programmes on behalf of the Department. In order to give effect to the new arrangements, LEADER and Partnership groups in 27 areas of the country have been asked to form new companies by the end of October. The intention is that the LEADER and Partnership companies will transfer into the new legal entities when they are established.
The European Communities (Protection of Employees on Transfer of Undertakings Regulations 2003 (S.I. No. 131 of 2003) apply to any transfer of an undertaking, business or part of a business from one employer to another employer as a result of a legal transfer or merger. Subject to the application of these rules, the appointment of the chief executive officer will be a matter for the board of the new legal entity when established.