130 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation the number of area based partnerships in the Cork area; and when they came into existence. [14168/99]

In Cork city, the Cork city partnership – Comhar Chathair Chorcai Teo – which was set up in l995 is the only area based partnership company. Prior to its establishment, area based initiatives on the north side of the city only were delivered by North Lee Development Limited which had been set up in 1991 under the Programme for Economic and Social Progress as part of the then Government's strategy to tackle long-term unemployment.

Local development activities outside Cork city are provided by the following six ADM supported community groups which were set up in September 1995: Avondhu Development Group; Bantry Integrated Development Group; East Cork Area Development Ltd., IRD Duhallow Ltd., Ballyhoura Ltd., (with a cross county remit) and Meitheal Forbartha na Gaeltachta, (with a cross county remit).