Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 11 Feb 1998

Vol. 487 No. 1

Written Answers. - Social Disadvantage and Deprivation.

Proinsias De Rossa

Question:

55 Proinsias De Rossa asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation the details of the pilot programme on social disadvantage announced in the budget to target areas of special social disadvantage and deprivation; the areas in which the projects will be located; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3280/98]

Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation (Dr. McDaid)

In our large cities there are many areas with high level of deprivation and severe social problems. Recent years have seen an increasing level of activity and resources devoted to those areas but problems continue to persist in many areas.

The Government believes that one of the major stumbling blocks to the effectiveness of existing initiatives is a history of insufficient co-ordination between organisations in the State-funded sector. The Government has, therefore, decided that a priority is to ensure a more focused and better co-ordinated response by the statutory authorities to the need of urban communities with the growth levels of disadvantage as a basis of a model for best practice.

New procedures to achieve the objectives are being developed, under the auspices of the Interdepartmental Policy Committee on Local Development which is chaired by the Minister of State, Deputy Chris Flood. Four pilot areas will be targeted initially; Dublin's north east inner city; the canal communities, Fatima Mansions, St. Teresa's Gardens, St. Michael's House, Dolphin House; Jobstown, Tallaght; Togher, Cork. The project will involve consultation with local communities about the needs of their areas; existing services and resources; the extent of integration between them; and development mechanisms for greater co-ordination and integration. A budget of £750,000 has been provided, in 1998, for this pilot initiative on the integrated delivery of service in disadvantaged urban areas.