Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The Minister of State has spoken about new processes. Surely this should happen in consultation with local community and voluntary groups. This, and not excluding them from the process, is the key to developing the strategy.

I am very concerned with the Minister of State's responses here this morning, talking about changes and involving new processes. From what I am hearing, the people who run the front line, the task forces and the community groups, and know what is happening on the ground, are not involved in this process for this consultation. That is very concerning to me. Will the Minister of State indicate who is making these decisions? They are not being inclusive of these groups. Other Deputies and Senators are also meeting with these groups and they are getting the same feedback as me. I am very concerned with the points made by the Minister of State this morning.

With regard to the north inner city, is the Minister of State, Deputy Feighan, aware that the Department no longer provides operational funding to the north inner city drug and alcohol task force? Unless this funding is reinstated, in effect this task force is being shut down and its two staff are being made redundant. What does the Minister of State have to say about this? It is very serious. I am aware that the local Deputies, including my own party leader, are very concerned about this. Will the Minister of State give a commitment now to reinstate that funding and let that task force get on with the vital work it is doing?