COMMUNITY GROUPS ASK MINISTER TO THINK AGAIN ON ALIGNMENT PROPOSALS

1 March 2013 No Comments by The Northern Standard

“As far as I can see, this is taking power away from the people, not bringing it back to them and our children will not thank us if we let it happen” was the comment that seemed to capture the mood of a public meeting held in Tullycorbett Community Centre on Feb 21st last.
On October 16th, 2012, the Government published proposals to align the local government and local development sectors. LOCAL development companies (LDCs), such as Monaghan Integrated Development (MID), which have successfully administered community development programmes like the EU LEADER programme, Local and Community Development Programme, Volunteer Centre and Local Employment Services, are at loggerheads with Minister for the Environment Phil Hogan over his proposal to align these bodies with city and county councils.
At a well attended meeting a large audience of well over 100 people involved in community and voluntary groups from across Co Monaghan who had gathered to hear the voluntary board of Monaghan Integrated Development (MID) outline its concerns about the government’s proposal to ‘align’ the work of companies like MID with their local County Council. These plans are known as ‘Alignment’.
At the start of the meeting, Mary Mullen, speaking on behalf of the MID Board, said that the Board had just finished their monthly meeting and were very alarmed with what was proposed. ‘Alignment’ was a small part of the larger reform of Local Government structures and there was much in the proposals that made good sense. However, other changes could seriously damage …

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