Michael Collins (Cork South West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the groups for coming and their presentations. Everyone knows that the Leader groups have delivered greatly for people in their areas during the years. There is no doubt about this. As the gentleman from County Kerry was saying, there will be an extra 500 rural social scheme workers following yesterday's announcement in the budget, which is good news. It might only mean a small number in each area, but it is a move in the right direction.

I will put a few questions to which the delegates might reply. Unfortunately, some schools on the islands are closing due to falling population.

The islanders have been strong, especially the ones I represent in west Cork, about getting a chaperone or somebody else on board the ferry to take the children from the island to the school and back. They have been in contact with the Department. Perhaps it is not fair to put that to Mr. Dempsey because the Minister should probably answer the question. Has that been acceded to? It has been advanced frequently.

Many people had an input into what they are doing but the most astonishing news for me as a public representative of Cork South-West is that West Cork Development Partnership, WCDP, will cease over the next few weeks. Both Mr. Dempsey and Mr. O'Brien were passionate in their presentation. It leaves a large number of questions for my constituency, which has been savaged by cuts in the past few years, including the loss of Garda stations, post offices and banks. However, we thought there was a recovery and now WCDP is being taken from us, which is the probably the biggest blow to west Cork for as long as I have been around. I cannot find answers to the many questions this leaves. The committee will have to find them going forward because someone has made decisions and we have not been informed over the past number of months why they were made.

The first kick that west Cork took was the cut of €2.4 million in the partnership's budget three years ago. What was the reason for that? Where did the money go? The latest kick is to take it out of business altogether. The partnership was looked on as one of the best groups to roll out the previous programme but this time it and Comhairle na nOileán are the only groups that are not allowed the new programme. Who was involved in making the decision? The European Commission is now questioning the decision. I am passionate about this and if the Commission is questioning this, the committee should be looking for answers. If we do not get them, the committee will not function at all. Somebody has made a decision along the line and we need answers.The Commission commended WCDP and other groups and they have been asked to look at the roll-out of a similar programme in Georgia but the State does not see fit to ask them to roll out anything, even though they were voted the No. 1 group for the roll-out of the previous programme. Something has gone wrong and we need to get to the bottom of it. This involves European money. The Irish Timesand The Southern Starhave reported that the Commission is launching an investigation into a decision made two weeks ago to take WCDP out of business. We need to know what is going on. Can Mr. Dempsey or Mr. O'Brien shed any light on this?