Vol. 515 No. 1
40 Mr. Broughan asked the Minister for Finance his views on the Dublin Employment Pact report; the way in which the £553 million required for 264,000 disadvantaged people living in Dublin will be targeted through the national development plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1899/00]
The report to which the Deputy refers was prepared by Goodbody Economic Consultants, who were commissioned by the Dublin Employment Pact to draw up an indicative budget to tackle existing gaps in the social infrastructure of the most disadvantaged areas of the Dublin region over the period of the National Development Plan, 2000-2006.
I have noted that many of the expenditure headings referred to in the report are encompassed in the social inclusion provisions of the NDP, including areas such as housing, sport and recreational facilities and child care. While the Deputy will appreciate that my Department does not have primary responsibility for the specific allocation of resources in these areas, I can assure him that the report has been brought to the attention of the various Departments and agencies currently involved in the formulation of the operational programmes necessary to give effect to the social inclusion proposals in the plan. I am sure that the report will be a valuable input to their consideration.
As part of the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness, a targeted initiative for investment in infrastructure in disadvantaged urban and rural areas is to be developed. The report under reference will also be considered in this context.
