Mr. Jerry Murphy:

We take seriously our role in trying to assist the groups on the ground in demonstrating the value of what they do. It is all very well for a group in a local area to be doing something. However, the message needs to get out and it needs to be joined with the messages from the other groups around what works, what does not and what they are producing for Government. We have invested heavily in systems, support structures and in data collection to try to give those messages. At times, it is not popular locally because we are asking them to give us information. However, when the benefit is seen of putting that information together to demonstrate to Government the value of their programme, people then see it is all about maintaining investment.

I will use the social inclusion and community activation plan, SICAP, as an example. That was raised earlier. There is an information system now in SICAP that allows us not only know what each group is doing but exactly who they are doing it with and to prove that, for example, in terms of the targeting issue that was raised earlier, we know we are working with the most disadvantaged people. We also know what services they are getting and how they have moved from unemployment to employment. Mr Leamy mentioned earlier in his opening address that our relationship with organisations like the ESRI is important to us. We work closely with the ESRI. It objectively and independently looks at the figures and what is happening. It has been able to make very strong statements that the programme is working with the most disadvantaged and that it is producing a series of outputs.

I will point members as well to one of the documents going around. It is called "Kickboxing kindness and going the extra mile". It is an example of good practice not always being about numbers and figures. It is about dealing with people with particular types of issues, how local groups have successfully managed to do that and then drawing those lessons out to give elsewhere. We see that as an important part of our role.