Community development areas named

Ten areas have been named by Environment Minister Phil Hogan where the first socio-economic committees will be established with responsibility for a broad range of local and community development interventions.

The pilot committees are being considered for Dublin City Council, Dún-Laoghaire-Rathdown Co Council, South Dublin Co Council, Leitrim Co Council, Roscommon Co Council, Offaly Co Council, Mayo Co Council, Galway Co Council, Limerick Co Council and Cork Co Council.

Mr Hogan said they will be responsible for a broader range of publicly funded programmes and structures than those contracted to existing local delivery bodies, including local development companies — which he said will continue to have an important role and will be key partners on the committees.

Any suggestion that the change will result in either closure of local development companies or in significant job losses is not accurate, according to the minister, whose plans are strongly opposed by the 50 local development companies.

He was accused this week of making a grab for the resources of LEADER, by Doirin Graham, CEO of Clare Local Development Company.

But Mr Hogan has said the companies should be more worried about reduction in funding for the local and community development programme and for the Leader rural development scheme.