Paul Donnelly (Dublin West, Sinn Fein)

I move amendment No. 1:

In page 13, between lines 29 and 30, to insert the following: “(c) the insertion of the following subsection after subsection (5):

“(5A) In carrying out the powers conferred by subsection (5), the Minister shall—

(a) ensure that a review of the financial supports to disadvantaged communities, identified in the Pobal HP Deprivation Index, that are affected by crime, is conducted in public consultation with individuals and stakeholders,

(b) ensure that such a review is undertaken every 24 months at a minimum, or more frequently, at the discretion of the Minister, and a report on the review is laid before each House of the Oireachtas,

(c) ensure that the report laid before each House of the Oireachtas identifies any additional financial supports, other than that provided in the annual budget, that may be provided to disadvantaged communities as in paragraph (a) affected by crime in order to alleviate the impact of crime and prevent future criminal behaviour, including the funding of targeted youth educational and development initiatives where appropriate,

(d) give due consideration to the recommendations of any review carried out under this subsection and prioritise, where possible, the use of monies realised in the making of disposal orders under this section for the purposes identified in the review, and

(e) ensure that a report on the use of monies realised in the making of disposal orders under this Act is laid before each House of the Oireachtas on an annual basis.”,”.

I will speak to the amendment tabled by Deputy Mark Ward. Unfortunately, the Deputy is not well today, so he asked me to step in for this debate. The amendment is to ensure there is a review of financial supports for disadvantaged communities identified in the Pobal HP deprivation index. I was talking to Deputy Ward today and he spoke about Dublin West, his constituency, which is an area showing more deprivation. The latest report shows a number of areas where deprivation is increasing, particularly in the Dublin mid-west area. The Deputy wanted me to reflect that.

The amendment states the Minister shall:

(b) ensure that such a review is undertaken every 24 months at a minimum, or more frequently, at the discretion of the Minister, and a report on the review is laid before each House of the Oireachtas,

(c) ensure that the report laid before each House of the Oireachtas identifies any additional financial supports, other than that provided in the annual budget, that may be provided to disadvantaged communities as in paragraph (a) affected by crime in order to alleviate the impact of crime and prevent future criminal behaviour, including the funding of targeted youth educational and development initiatives where appropriate,

(d) give due consideration to the recommendations of any review carried out under this subsection and prioritise, where possible, the use of monies realised in the making of disposal orders under this section for the purposes identified in the review, and

(e) ensure that a report on the use of monies realised in the making of disposal orders under this Act is laid before each House of the Oireachtas on an annual basis.

The reason for this amendment is to look at the supports these moneys provide and to ensure they are getting to the right areas. Much of the money is generated from criminal activities which directly affect the most disadvantaged communities in the State. The community safety fund is a good initiative and certainly something that we support, but there are a couple of issues with it. One is that, unfortunately, projects have to apply for new initiatives. That is fine but many good, ongoing initiatives that require support and could really do with an awful lot of extra funding cannot apply for this particular funding. The funding can only be a once-off. We are reinventing the wheel in some cases. If we get a good initiative that works well, unfortunately, it cannot reapply for that funding. Only organisations that are very well organised and have good structures behind them are able to apply for that funding. That needs to be addressed.

I went through the last three years of applications for funding. Looking at some of the people who have got this funding, I am not sure whether it actually gets into the areas we want it to get to. That is why part of this amendment looks at how we ensure that those communities which are most disadvantaged and most directly affected by drugs in our communities receive funding.

In my own area in Dublin West, we can rhyme off the areas that are most directly affected, like my community in Mountview and there is also Corduff and Mulhuddart. Nearly every community is affected by drugs but there are specific areas like the north inner city and in Limerick and Cork. We know them and hear them constantly referenced by Deputies and Senators in relation to that deprivation. We need a particular review of how that funding is disbursed, the value for money and whether it is getting to right places. That is important. If there are organisations doing good work, they should be able to get funding for those ongoing projects.