asked the Minister for Justice if he will outline actions and policies being pursued at present or to be pursued in the near future by his Department to alleviate or deal with any aspect of the difficulties confronting the socially and economically disadvantaged area of the inner city of Dublin, north of the River Liffey; and if he will give details of the proposed time-table in respect of any such initiative, and the amounts of moneys, including grants, subsidies or other resources which arise in this regard.
Written Answers. - Dublin Inner City.
734.
Limerick East): Some of the projects carried out by my Department in dealing with offenders have the very commendable effect of contributing to the social well-being of the area in question.
The Department operates a Community Works Project Scheme under which parties of prisoners under the supervision of prison officers carry out projects in the community for deserving causes. In recent times work parties have carried out decoration and renovation of old people's homes in the area mentioned, and a major job of reconstruction and refurbishment of a house in Lower Seán McDermott Street owned by the Simon Community has just been completed.
The Department's Probation and Welfare Service runs a resource centre in Marlborough Place for offenders on probation and for offenders on temporary release from prisons and places of detention under the intensive supervision scheme. Offenders from the inner city area, among others, use this facility, which provides programmes in social skills and preparation for employment. The Department also provides an annual grant (£10,000 in 1982) to assist the St. Vincent's Trust in the operation of a workshop in the area.