John Bruton
Question:3 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Taoiseach the recent meetings, if any, he has had with the chief executives of semi-State bodies. [17642/98]
Ceisteanna—Questions. - Semi-State Bodies.
Contacts between the management of semi-State bodies and the Government take the form of ongoing interaction involving the appropriate parent Departments and Ministers. In addition, I am kept informed of key developments and issues affecting the operations of such bodies. This process works well and is complemented by meetings between myself and the chief executives of semi-State organisations as the need arises.
As stated in the House previously, a key Government priority in respect of the semi-State sector has been to maximise the conditions to enable such companies to be competitive and cost-effective in the provision of vital public services to the benefit of the consumer. Our aim is to have growing and healthy companies, serving the public well and giving high quality employment at home and abroad and I am satisfied with progress in this regard.
At the weekend, the Taoiseach stated he is planning to establish a new pilot scheme to enable all State bodies to provide better services to certain urban black spots such as Jobstown in Tallaght and Togher in Cork. What exactly has the Taoiseach in mind and how does it differ from the partnership companies already in place?
I presume the Deputy is asking about what I said in Cork. If so, I was talking about the drugs areas.
It was in Killarney.
I was in Cork and in Killarney. I was speaking about the drugs problem and the work in progress under Minister of State, Deputy Flood, in these areas, with the community, to try to deal with the difficulties of drug addiction and the lack of educational opportunities.
With no disrespect, what is new about this? Is this not what the drugs task forces have been doing and what the partnership companies, established under the previous Government, are doing? What is the Government proposing that is new in Togher and in Jobstown?
The Deputy may not be aware that a youth facilities fund was set up this year which has been allocated £25 million. Recently most of the 11 areas — ten in Dublin and one in Cork — submitted their plans, priorities and recommendations following a project which involved four pilot areas in Dublin and one in Cork. Their recommendations have been accepted by the Minister of State, Deputy Flood. He outlined last Thursday what precisely he intends to do in these areas.
I am not quite sure what is new in terms of service over and above the existing structural services.
What is new is that the work of the pilot areas will be developed further. The money available to the service fund last year was zero, this year it is £25 million. There is also £10 million in the drugs area which was available last year. The Minister has been listening to the communities — the end user — to find out how best the Government can start to alleviate the problems and the difficulties in these areas.