I raise a very serious issue raised by community groups across the board regarding the privatisation of what is left of the local and community development programme, LCDP. The Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Phil Hogan, has begun the process of tendering in the private sector for the provision of community development services to be sold in 31 lots for between €30 million and €40 million. There has been a deliberate and complete absence of consultation with the workers and community organisations which will be affected. The Minister has cited concerns about commercial sensitivities to justify this. He has also told the House that he was legally required to put the service contracts out to tender under Directive No. 2004/18/EC. This directive has been repealed and the new EU Directive No. 2014/24/EU makes it clear that member states are free to "organise social services in a way that does not entail the conclusion of public contracts". Why is Ireland the only EU member state taking this action? Will the Taoiseach instruct the Minister to come to the Dáil with a statement outlining the legal basis for his action? Will the Government abandon this crazy idea?

I raise the particular concerns of organisations working with and within the Traveller community. The National Traveller Partnership which represents a coalition of 14 local and three national Traveller organisations is asking the Government to take the specific conditions affecting Travellers into account and ring-fence existing Traveller funding. The partnership wants the Government to pay this funding, either through the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government or through Pobal for specific community development and social inclusion programmes managed by the National Traveller Partnership and to draw up a service level agreement with the Department or Pobal to deliver such a specific programme. State agencies and local authorities have a deplorable record in dealing with issues facing the Traveller community and there is discrimination within society. During the past six years of austerity this most vulnerable section of the community has borne the worst cuts, with an 80% reduction in funding and a 40% cut to the Traveller-specific projects of the LCDP, on top of the general cuts to LCDP funding. Will the Taoiseach take on board the points made by the National Traveller Partnership? Will he invite its representatives to talk to them about their concerns? Will he get the Minister to deal with the issue before he might be moved to the European Union?

The Traveller community programmes are important because they have always been tailored to the particular needs and circumstances of the Traveller groups with which they deal. I have seen a number of them working. I am sure the Minister can take into account the five points raised by the Deputy. This is not the privatisation of such work but the opportunity for existing and other companies to tender for the programmes and work involved. The tender process is to conclude on 11 July. The reason for inviting companies to submit tenders for the work is to ensure there will be an effective output and that public money is spent most effectively. Companies will tender for the work programmes in the different localities around the country; the tenders will be examined and the programmes of work will be awarded to the relevant companies. The process will be published, ensuring accountability and transparency. There was a process of consultation; there is now a process of seeking tenders which must be examined and used as the basis for decisions. It is not privatisation.

Yes, it is. Multinationals will come in.

There was much scaremongering in abolishing Leader groups and voluntary organisations which was without foundation.

The consultation process did not involve the people in the community partnerships who will be affected or the people working in the National Traveller Partnership but at a different level. The Minister, Deputy Phil Hogan, made no attempt to listen to the workers' concerns about their jobs and futures and the future of the local development companies. The Taoiseach did not answer the question about the new directive, Directive 2014/24/EU, which makes it clear that member states do not have to pursue this process. If that is the case, like many others here, I would like the Minister to defend his position in railroading this procedure into community projects. It is privatisation; there is no other word for it. Any community development worker and any National Traveller Partnership worker will tell the Taoiseach that it is tendering for community projects. Will the Taoiseach take on board the concerns of the National Traveller Partnership which has voiced its concerns succinctly and eloquently to me and others who attended last week's press conference? Two Labour Party Deputies were present and I hope they will row in behind the call for the National Traveller Partnership to meet the Taoiseach and the Minister because nothing happens in the Dáil unless the Taoiseach intervenes to mark the cards of his Ministers.

I will examine the case made by the National Traveller Partnership. There is no reason the existing companies cannot win and be awarded the work. They already have experience of doing it.

Then why is the Government seeking tenders?

That is why, rather than continuously rolling it over each year, there is a process of tendering for the work. It is competitive and good in the interests of getting the best for taxpayers' money.

It is not meant to be privatised.

It is privatisation of community centres.

It is the privatisation of the community sector.

It is as privatising as one can get.

It is the privatisation of volunteers.

I am sure the programmes, companies and communities involved will hone their work to best effect. It is about getting the best output from the moneys put in. For that reason, the tender process has been introduced. Otherwise, it will lead to all of the old stories of how it is that this is transferred each year to company X or company Y.

Will the Taoiseach meet them?

Will the Taoiseach hear what they have to say?

There is no reason the companies doing the job cannot be awarded the work as a result of their tenders on this occasion either.

It is Fine Gael doing it again.