Department of Community Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs
http://www.pobail.ie/en/AboutUs/
Short Description of role of the Department of Community Rural and Gaeltacht Afairs.
The Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, one of the newest Departments of State, was established by Government in June 2002, with some 240 staff in 6 locations, mainly in Dublin and Na Forbacha, Co Galway.
The Department has specific responsibility for a range of functions including
- Community Development Programmes
- Local Development
- the RAPID programmes for Revitalising Areas by Planning, Investment and Development ,
- Coordination of the National Drugs Strategy,
- Volunteering,
- Rural Development initiatives including CLÁR, LEADER, INTERREG and a number of measures under the EU Programme for Peace and Reconciliation
The Department also retains the responsibilities previously held by the former Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands for
The State Boards and agencies discharge specific responsibilities in the community, rural, Gaeltacht and islands sectors under the aegis of the Department :
Commissioners of Charitable Donations and Bequests for Ireland
Western Development Commission
An Coimisiún Logainmneacha (the Placenames Commission)
Pobal formerly ADM Ltd. is an intermediary company established by the Irish Government, in agreement with the European Commission, to promote social inclusion, reconciliation and equality and to counter disadvantage through local social and economic development.
It administers the Local Development Social Inclusion Programme, RAPID and PEACE II Programme on behalf of this Department.
Two cross-border implementation bodies - An Foras Teanga (comprising Foras na Gaeilge and Tha Boord o Ulster-Scotch) and Waterways Ireland - come under the aegis of the Department in accordance with the terms of the British-Irish Agreement of March 1999.