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On the web relating to Alignment

REPORTS, ANALYSIS, RESPONSES

The following are links to 30 or so online news reports, academic articles and Government papers. Along with our own sources and a review or Oireachtas debates, they helped inform 'Changing Ireland's reportage on local government reform and the debate around 'alignment':

NEWS FEATURE: Community reps negotiate with officials

- Talks continue over small but significant detail of reform plans

Allen Meagher reports:

Talks are continuing between Government officials and representatives from the Irish Local Development Network (ILDN) the representative body for the country’s Local Development Companies (LDCs).

A dozen useful websites - find out more about Community Development in Ireland

There are a number of useful websites worth recommending to anyone interested in the Community and Voluntary Sector in Ireland and in Community Development.

Supporting local businesses - A RURAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME TASTER!

The Local and Community Development Programme is one of around a dozen programmes administered by Local Development Companies (aka Partnerships) around the country.
One of the better-known programmes is LEADER (or to use call it by its proper title, the Rural Development Programme). 
Here's just one example, from Kerry, of how the North East Kerry Development used funding from the Rural Development Programme to make a real difference for a small business in Ballybunion that employs eight seasonal staff.

NOTE: The upcoming edition of 'Changing Ireland' out this June will include a 2-page feature on the RDP. As well as supporting small local businesses, the RDP also funds projects that engage in community development, tourism interests and heritage work.