Ó Cuív overhauls services
LEADER is the EU Community Initiative for Rural Development that provides approved Local Action Groups with public funding (EU and National) to implement multi-sectoral business plans for the development of their own areas.
The Rural Social Scheme allows low-income earners unable to make an adequate living from farming or fishing to earn supplementary income.
Partnership companies were founded in 1991 under an EU programme to tackle areas of disadvantage. They have been expanded over time to cover approximately two thirds of the country, but large pockets of disadvantage are still left without essential community services. Through the Local Development Social Inclusion Programme, Partnership companies target the long-term unemployed, socially and economically disadvantaged women, young people at risk, travellers, people with disabilities, homeless people, ethnic minorities, lone parents, ex-prisoners and low income households.
“We cannot let the ‘pockets of disadvantage’ go unnoticed and unaided, that is, whole communities or individuals facing hardship outside of the main Partnership or LEADER catchment areas. This Government is determined to provide services to all of our citizens facing disadvantage, no matter where they live,” said Minister Ó Cuív.
The 2007 shake-up is designed to provide all the country with Partnership company coverage, making every citizen and every community eligible for assistance, and to address new and emerging challenges such as immigration.
“I am determined that the delivery of community services is organised in such a way that the public will not get bogged down and ‘shut out’ by a maze of organisations, services and programmes. If the public can understand the community services system and can access services easily, then we are doing our job properly. I have no doubt that when this work is complete the people needing services will enjoy a much better delivery as a consequence,” said Minister Ó Cuív.
