Ceist:
60 Dr. Upton asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation if he will make a statement on the third progress report on the integrated services process which was submitted to Cabinet in December 2000. [6623/01]
Written Answers. - Integrated Services Process.
One of the Government's key social inclusion priorities continues to be the need to ensure a more focused and better co-ordinated response by the statutory authorities in addressing the needs of severely disadvantaged urban communities. In this context, the integrated services process – ISP – was established on a pilot basis in 1998. It was overseen by a national steering committee and PricewaterhouseCoopers were appointed as external evaluators for the process.
The third progress report on the ISP was submitted to the Cabinet Committee on Social Inclusion in December 2000. The report highlighted that significant progress has been made to date in improving the co-ordination and targeting of State service provision. This, in turn, has resulted in tangible benefits for the communities concerned and a significant improvement in the services provided by State agencies.
The report also highlighted that implementing the process has placed considerable demands on Departments and agencies in terms of resources. Notwithstanding this, it was found that the pilot phase has demonstrated that the fundamental principles on which the ISP is based are sound and provide a framework through which the State can better deliver its services in the most disadvantaged urban areas. A final report on the integrated services process will be submitted to the Cabinet committee shortly.
In the circumstances, the Cabinet committee decided that an ISP style framework and approach should be used to establish the new revitalising areas by planning, investment and development programme, RAPID, and will underpin the manner in which it operates.
Question No. 61 answered with Question No. 44.