I thank the Leas-Chathaoirleach for taking this matter on the Adjournment. It may seem extraordinary that it has taken me two years to get this far with this question. I have done the rounds of every Department to establish who should take responsibility for this matter. Following a request to the Taoiseach's Department to adjudicate in the matter, I have been successful in having it brought to the floor of the Seanad. I thank the Minister for coming to this House to listen to my views. As someone who was involved in the teaching profession and in other organisations, I know he will have an interest in the subject.
The Pioneer Total Abstinence Association was founded in 1898 by Father Jim Cullen. There were four ladies involved at the time, Ms Egan, Ms Sullivan, Ms Bury and Ms Power. While it was merely a spiritual organisation in the early years, it developed into a spiritual organisation with a recreational outlet. In 1983 the National Leisure Council of the Pioneer Total Abstinence Association was formed. It is to address its problems that I tabled this question on the Adjournment.
The National Leisure Council was formed to take charge of activities and competitions for young and old at All-Ireland level. Thus, the Readóirí and quiz competitions began. The flagship of pioneer activities is the Readóirí competitions, the All-Ireland Final of which is held on the fourth Saturday of February each year. Approximately 250 competitors from the four provinces take part. The venues also rotate between the provinces and audiences ranging from 700 to 2,000 people attend on an annual basis. The activities involved are figure dancing, group disco dancing, junior setdancing, senior setdancing, junior and old time waltzing, group singing, junior solo singing, junior novelty act, senior novelty act, musical groups, junior recitation, senior recitation, quizzes and many other activities.
This organisation provides an outlet for young people. Two of the greatest scourges that face young people today are drugs and drink. We have identified that anti-drug programmes are needed in cities and towns. I welcome these programmes and the vast amount of money being spent on them. It is money well spent. We may save money in the long run in not having to carry out drug treatment programmes.
We also need programmes that focus on alcohol because its abuse contributes to the breakdown of family life. The PTAA's National Leisure Council is addressing this issue in a practical manner. It explains to young people that there are opportunities to socialise and enjoy themselves apart from sitting in a lounge bar or going to a disco where 90 per cent of the activities are drink related.
I was aggrieved to discover that since 1983 no Government, Department, statutory body or local authority has given as much as one shilling to the National Leisure Council of the PTAA. This should be highlighted. When I addressed the matter with the various Departments I discovered that no Department – and this is going back over the past two Governments – has responsibility for funding for the NLC. I specifically mentioned lottery funds. No Department was prepared to help this national body which is doing vital work on behalf of young people. As a last resort, I tabled this motion today. While it has taken me some time to do so, this issue needs to be exposed and debated.
All the Ministers and officials to whom I spoke were sympathetic to this organisation but could not find a means to help it. They could not find legislation or regulations that would allow them give money to it. Sport and recreation, health and education have a role to play in this organisation and these headings must come within the remit of some Department. There must be some ambit of Government from which the National Leisure Council of the PTAA can claim a small grant towards providing a computer, equipment and the organisation of activities. They deserve a grant. This should be investigated by some section. I have been told that the Department of Finance has finally accepted the motion tonight and responded to it, but the Department's officials, irrespective of what Government is in office, tend to find many reasons for not allocating money. We will find it difficult to get money from the Department, but as a result of this motion and what I have said here tonight, I hope they will indicate to one of the Departments that this is a matter to which they should respond.
I ask the Minister for the Environment and Local Government, Deputy Dempsey, to convey to the Minister for Finance the very strong message I have received from a powerful organisation. I am not a pioneer, but I admire the people who put so much energy into this group. I have intimate knowledge of its activities because the vice-chairman of the group is a Roscommon man. Even though he is a building contractor by profession, he manages to give a lot of his time to this national organisation and I admire him for doing so. I have also met other officers through him who put a very good case to me.
No matter what Department finally decides to look at this case and, at least, affords them an opportunity to make a formal application, I hope the Minister will indicate to the Department of Finance that this is a genuine case. I also hope he tells the organisation that it is doing a wonderful job on behalf of young people. It is very important that we have people who are willing to work in a voluntary capacity and to give so much of their time to look after the interests of young people and protect them from the evil and trauma of alcohol abuse while providing them with an alternative. I have no doubt the Minister will pursue the issue. I hope some area of Government will indicate that it is prepared to consider an application under some grant heading and provide support for this wonderful national organisation in the not too distant future.
