asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health whether he will initiate the necessary steps to establish a voluntary co-ordinating committee for free meal schemes administrated for Dublin City in order to avoid overlapping and consequent waste of effort and resources.
Ceisteanna.—Questions. Oral Answers. - Free Meal Schemes.
I am not satisfied that a voluntary co-ordinating committee such as the Deputy suggests is necessary, but even if it were necessary, I think it should be brought about by means other than official intervention.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that a number of public-spirited persons have initiated different schemes, the common purpose of all of which is to provide food for poor people at prices that those people can afford to pay, ranging from the Penny Dinners to the Guild of Goodwill, and that unless something is done to co-ordinate the excellent public-spirited work that is being undertaken by all these people, there is real danger of overlapping and of serious waste, and that that will not manifest itself fully until next winter, when it will be too late to take the necessary action? I point out that, in the absence of the Minister's taking the initiative in this matter, it is a question of its being nobody's business to suggest the co-ordination of all these excellent activities.
The position may be as stated by the Deputy, but I am not aware that these voluntary organisations of individuals, who are operating such schemes, would welcome Government intervention.
Might I suggest the possibility of something short of Government intervention? Would it not be possible for the Parliamentary Secretary to take the initiative to bring these people together and suggest to them a practical scheme for voluntary co-ordination which would make the work of each of them more effective and the work of the whole more efficient?
I see no reason why they cannot come together themselves.
But suppose they will not agree to consider the desirability of taking the initiative in the matter, would it not be possible for the Parliamentary Secretary to take the initiative, even if he made up his mind that, unless all parties were ready and willing to accept his good offices, he would withdraw?
Would such intervention be welcomed in advance?
Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that some of these bodies are finding the demands on them greater than their resources, and does he contemplate in any way coming to their assistance?
That is a separate question.
Would the Parliamentary Secretary take the initial steps, albeit informally, to find out whether action on the lines suggested by me would be welcome?
Why could there not be consultation between the interested parties outside?
The Parliamentary Secretary is not prepared to take any action himself?
Not to take the initiative.
Even to inquire whether or not his action would be welcome?
To whom does the Deputy suggest these inquiries should be addressed?
To those bodies which, as the Parliamentary Secretary knows, are engaging in this excellent work.
What is to prevent these bodies from communicating with the Minister to the effect that they desire intervention?
Because everybody's business is nobody's business.
But that is their business.
Is it not desirable to avoid waste in connection with this excellent work? The Minister represents the community and the State, and surely it is obviously his function to take the initiative, even if he makes up his mind that he will not pursue the matter unless his intervention is warmly welcomed? Otherwise, there is nobody to take the first step.