Vol. 497 No. 5
63 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation the agencies or people being referred to in a speech to a conference in Killarney, County Kerry, on 31 October 1998 in which those with responsibility for delivering services to urban blackspots were criticised; when he will meet these people; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22557/98]
Over the years, successive Administrations have devoted significant resources to tackling the problems associated with pockets of acute deprivation in urban areas. Despite the good work being done by the staff of State funded organisations working in those areas, we still have major problems.
One factor inhibiting the effectiveness of the State's collective endeavour in deprived urban areas is a history of insufficient co-operation and co-ordination between organisations in the State funded sector. Each of the organisations operating in these areas pursues its own brief. There is often no over—arching vision. Sustained, structured dialogue between the different organisations is not the general rule.
This is not a criticism of specific individuals or organisations. It is a reflection on systems failure and this is the issue the Taoiseach was addressing in his remarks in Killarney. Such systems failure is not unique to Ireland. It tends to happen wherever you have different organisations working in the same area addressing different but related problems.
The fact that this is a chronic problem and a universal one does not, however, excuse us from trying to tackle it. The Government certainly feels that it is time for change and to that end, it launched, under the auspices of the Inter-Departmental Policy Committee on Local Development, a pilot project, known as the Integrated Services Project.
The first phase of that project was a research phase which involved a close look at the situation on the ground in four areas — Dublin's north east inner City, the canal communities, Fatima Mansions, St. Teresa's Gardens, St. Michael's House and Dolphin House, Jobstown, Tallaght and Togher, Cork.
It is fair to say that the situation on the ground does suggest the value of closer working and planning relationships between the organisations from the State funded sector which are active in deprived urban areas. It also indicates the value of taking account of the real needs and experience of end users in the design and planning of service delivery in those areas.
Following discussions in various fora, the Cabinet Committee on Social Inclusion has now decided to proceed with the implementation phase of the project. This will be launched following discussions at a special meeting of SecretariesGeneral of relevant Departments and chief executive officers of relevant agencies which is being convened by the Taoiseach and will take place shortly.
The ultimate aim of the project is to develop models to secure more effective use of the State's resources in deprived urban areas generally and, thereby, improve the overall quality of life of the communities in those areas.
