Pat Rabbitte
Ceist:35 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation if he will give an update on the four pilot projects on social disadvantage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11757/99]
Written Answers. - Community Development Programmes.
One of the Government's key priorities is to ensure a more focused and better co-ordinated response by the statutory authorities in addressing the needs of severely disadvantaged urban communities.
To that end, the Interdepartmental Committee on Local Development, which I chair, has been given a mandate to oversee the creation of an integrated services process which aims to produce a model of best practice that can be extended to other deprived urban areas.
The first phase of that project involved a close look at the situation on the ground in four areas – Dublin's north-east inner city, the canal communities of Fatima Mansions, St. Teresa's Garden, St. Michael's House, Dolphin House, Jobstown, Tallaght and Togher, Cork.
Following a decision by the Cabinet Committee on Social Inclusion, the implementation phase was launched by the Taoiseach on 4 December 1998 at a special meeting of Secretaries General of relevant Departments and chief executive officers of relevant statutory agencies.
Each of these relevant Departments and statutory agencies has designated an official at national and local level, who is responsible for driving the integrated services process within that Department or agency.
Persons designated at local level have commenced the process of identifying a suitable methodology for addressing the needs of each area, as part of an implementation team. They are being assisted in this process by a national co-ordinator based in ADM Limited, who is looking after operational aspects of the project, and by four development and monitoring officers, one based in each of the target areas.
Progress reports by the development and monitoring officers indicate a commitment from all agencies, at local level, to participate fully in the ISP.
A number of task-specific sub-groups have also been established in each area to focus on specific priority issues. In addition, work is proceeding on the establishment of community consultative mechanisms in the four areas as a possible way of giving local people the opportunity to participate in a meaningful way in the process.