Sinn Féin Senator Trevor Ó Clochartaigh has stated that there is wide-spread concern throughout the country as to the future of Local Development Companies, due to Government Proposals to amalgamate Leader funding under Local Authorities.
Speaking during the Order of Business in the Seanad today the Galway West Senator called on the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Phil Hogan, to come in to the house, and to debate the matter.
"Local Development companies, such as those funded under Leader have a hugely important function in their communities. The experience of these companies during the past 20 years in addressing disadvantage, poverty and social exclusion is extremely important and must be continued. They have served this country extremely well and can often deliver in a much more cost effective manner than the arms of the Government."
"However, currently Leader funding has been frozen for local development companies over the past while and it is unclear why this has happened."
"Companies are trying to ensure their full allocation is used, in this, the final year of the programme and are uncertain as to their situation."
"We are all receiving letters from people supported by these companies with regard to their concerns about the new model for delivering Leader funding being proposed by the Minister. They are concerned that the Leader companies will be sucked into the county councils and most of the funding will be used for county council works. The current model is far more accountable and responsive to Local Communities and I think the quality of the services as well as the connection with the community would be lost under
the realignment proposals."
"The Minister needs to come in to this house, and clarify the
situation, and put people’s fears to rest."
Senator Ó Clochartaigh has also stated that it was vitally important that any available European funds would be used to this end.
“We also need to ensure we are drawing down all moneys available from Europe for this programme, we do not wish to leave anything unused because we need every penny to be spent here in Ireland."
_________________________-
Tá sé ráite ag an Seanadóir Shinn Féin, Trevor Ó Clochartaigh go bhfuil imní forleathan ann maidir le todhchaí na gComhlachtaí Forbartha Áitiúla mar gheall ar phleananna an Rialtais an clár LEADER a chuir faoi scáth na hÚdaráis
Áitiúla.
Ag labhairt do ar Riar na hOibre sa Seanad inniu d’iarr Seanadóir Ghaillimh Thiar ar an Aire Comhshaoil, Pobail& Rialtas Áitiuil, Phil Hogan, teacht isteach sa teach leis an ábhar a phlé go mion.
"Tá ról fíor-thábhachtach sna pobail áitiúla ag na Comhlachtaí Forbartha Áitiúla atá ag plé leis na scéimeanna LEADER. Tá an taithí atá acu le scór bliain anuas ag deileáil le míbhuntáiste, bochtaineacht agus eisiamh shóisialta thar a bheith luachmhar agus ba chóir leanúint leis. Tá seirbhís
an-mhaith tugtha acu don tír agus is minic gur féidir leo seirbhísí a sholáthar ar bhealach i bhfad níos éifeachtaí ná géaga eile den Rialtais".
"Ach, tá an maoiniú reatha do na cláracha LEADER stoptha ar na Comhlachtaí Forbartha Áitiúla le tamaillín freisin agus níl sé soiléír céard is cúis leis sin.”
"Tá na comhlachtaí ar a míle dicheall ag iarraidh deimhniú go mbeidh an t-allúntas atá acu caite go h-iomlán mar gurb í seo an bhliain deiridh den chlár agus tá míchinnteacht maidir le cá seasann siad ina leith seo.”
"Tá muid ag fáil an t-uafas litreacha ó dhaoine agus grúpaí ag tacú leis na Comhlachtaí maidir leis an atheagar atá beartaithe ag an Aire agus an t-airgead LEADER. Tá imní orthu go slogfar an maoiniú sin isteach sna h-údaráis áitiúla le gnáth obair gur chomhair don chomhairle chontae féin a bheith agdéanamh a dhéanamh. Tá an leagan amach reatha níos trédhearcaí agus níos airdeallaí ar na pobail áitiula agus measaim go dtitfidh caighdeán na seirbhísí agus an cheangal leis na pobail sin faoi na moltaí nua atá ag an
Aire.”
"Ní mhór don Aire teacht isteach sa teach seo leis an gcás a shoiléiriú agus an phobal a chuir ar a suaimhneas faoi seo.”
Dúirt an Seanadóir Ó Clochartaigh chomh maith go bhfuil sé
ríthábhachtach go dtarraingeofar anuas gach pingin atá le fáil don gclár LEADER ón Eoraip agus ciallaíonn sin an comhaoiniú a bheith le fáil ón taobh seo.
“Ni foláir go gcinnteofar go bhfuil muid ag fail gach cent atá ag dul don dtír seo ón Eoraip faoin gclár, mar ní theastaíonn uainn aon phingin a fhágáil acu mar gur gá gach ar féidir de a chaitheamh anseo in Éirinn.”
Speaking during the Order of Business in the Seanad today the Galway West Senator called on the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Phil Hogan, to come in to the house, and to debate the matter.
"Local Development companies, such as those funded under Leader have a hugely important function in their communities. The experience of these companies during the past 20 years in addressing disadvantage, poverty and social exclusion is extremely important and must be continued. They have served this country extremely well and can often deliver in a much more cost effective manner than the arms of the Government."
"However, currently Leader funding has been frozen for local development companies over the past while and it is unclear why this has happened."
"Companies are trying to ensure their full allocation is used, in this, the final year of the programme and are uncertain as to their situation."
"We are all receiving letters from people supported by these companies with regard to their concerns about the new model for delivering Leader funding being proposed by the Minister. They are concerned that the Leader companies will be sucked into the county councils and most of the funding will be used for county council works. The current model is far more accountable and responsive to Local Communities and I think the quality of the services as well as the connection with the community would be lost under
the realignment proposals."
"The Minister needs to come in to this house, and clarify the
situation, and put people’s fears to rest."
Senator Ó Clochartaigh has also stated that it was vitally important that any available European funds would be used to this end.
“We also need to ensure we are drawing down all moneys available from Europe for this programme, we do not wish to leave anything unused because we need every penny to be spent here in Ireland."
_________________________-
Tá sé ráite ag an Seanadóir Shinn Féin, Trevor Ó Clochartaigh go bhfuil imní forleathan ann maidir le todhchaí na gComhlachtaí Forbartha Áitiúla mar gheall ar phleananna an Rialtais an clár LEADER a chuir faoi scáth na hÚdaráis
Áitiúla.
Ag labhairt do ar Riar na hOibre sa Seanad inniu d’iarr Seanadóir Ghaillimh Thiar ar an Aire Comhshaoil, Pobail& Rialtas Áitiuil, Phil Hogan, teacht isteach sa teach leis an ábhar a phlé go mion.
"Tá ról fíor-thábhachtach sna pobail áitiúla ag na Comhlachtaí Forbartha Áitiúla atá ag plé leis na scéimeanna LEADER. Tá an taithí atá acu le scór bliain anuas ag deileáil le míbhuntáiste, bochtaineacht agus eisiamh shóisialta thar a bheith luachmhar agus ba chóir leanúint leis. Tá seirbhís
an-mhaith tugtha acu don tír agus is minic gur féidir leo seirbhísí a sholáthar ar bhealach i bhfad níos éifeachtaí ná géaga eile den Rialtais".
"Ach, tá an maoiniú reatha do na cláracha LEADER stoptha ar na Comhlachtaí Forbartha Áitiúla le tamaillín freisin agus níl sé soiléír céard is cúis leis sin.”
"Tá na comhlachtaí ar a míle dicheall ag iarraidh deimhniú go mbeidh an t-allúntas atá acu caite go h-iomlán mar gurb í seo an bhliain deiridh den chlár agus tá míchinnteacht maidir le cá seasann siad ina leith seo.”
"Tá muid ag fáil an t-uafas litreacha ó dhaoine agus grúpaí ag tacú leis na Comhlachtaí maidir leis an atheagar atá beartaithe ag an Aire agus an t-airgead LEADER. Tá imní orthu go slogfar an maoiniú sin isteach sna h-údaráis áitiúla le gnáth obair gur chomhair don chomhairle chontae féin a bheith agdéanamh a dhéanamh. Tá an leagan amach reatha níos trédhearcaí agus níos airdeallaí ar na pobail áitiula agus measaim go dtitfidh caighdeán na seirbhísí agus an cheangal leis na pobail sin faoi na moltaí nua atá ag an
Aire.”
"Ní mhór don Aire teacht isteach sa teach seo leis an gcás a shoiléiriú agus an phobal a chuir ar a suaimhneas faoi seo.”
Dúirt an Seanadóir Ó Clochartaigh chomh maith go bhfuil sé
ríthábhachtach go dtarraingeofar anuas gach pingin atá le fáil don gclár LEADER ón Eoraip agus ciallaíonn sin an comhaoiniú a bheith le fáil ón taobh seo.
“Ni foláir go gcinnteofar go bhfuil muid ag fail gach cent atá ag dul don dtír seo ón Eoraip faoin gclár, mar ní theastaíonn uainn aon phingin a fhágáil acu mar gur gá gach ar féidir de a chaitheamh anseo in Éirinn.”
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