The Government must show a greater willingness to decentralise decision-making to local area partnerships if they are to reach their full potential in deprived communities. That is one of the main findings of a report from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), "Delivering on Social Inclusion: Lessons from the Local Development Programme".
The report, launched in Dublin yesterday at the beginning of a two-day conference on social inclusion, also says partnership organisations must have a "breadth of vision, focus in action" approach on the ground.
The partnerships are representative of trade unions, community groups, employer bodies and State agencies. Since they were established in 1992, area partnerships have helped 13,100 long-term unemployed people set up their own businesses, helped another 23,500 unemployed people find jobs and helped more than 17,000 disadvantaged children with their education. They have also initiated 1,400 community, environmental and infrastructural projects.
The author of the report, Prof Ivan Turok, said: "Ireland's local partnerships enjoy a reputation for innovation in local governance and energetic action on unemployment and poverty" across the OECD.
While the situation had changed since area partnerships were set up and unemployment had fallen dramatically in the Republic, Prof Turok said they were still needed to pilot initiatives for the most marginalised.
The partnerships could use their vast experience to influence planning and spending by State agencies in disadvantaged areas. But this could only happen with the commitment and support of the Government, including great er willingness to decentralise decision-making, to consult the partnerships routinely and engage in joint policy-making.
In doing so, the Government would be recognising what local partnerships have already achieved in giving voice to disadvantaged groups and communities.