Paul Gogarty (Dublin Mid West, Green Party)

One would certainly be a token in light of what Deputy Gregory said, that the community groups who were disenfranchised from consultation yesterday now have an opportunity to possibly have a representative on the agency. In turn, the residents could be disenfranchised. There are distinct and disparate groupings involved. I cannot make a visual speech but, on the latest map supplied by the Government, the large scale of the neighbourhood shows the Grangegorman site as slap-bang in the middle of it. The site is being integrated into an existing community and the integration must be carried out in an effective way.

This site will be a large educational campus with a health element and, I hope, community facilities. To ensure adequate integration, residents must be proper stakeholders and have a proper input. Having two residents on the 15 member board will not upset the agency's ethos but would give residents a real stake in what is happening. The perception is important as well as the reality. I urge the Minister to consider putting a second resident on the agency. In addition to the resident mentioned, the Minister can appoint six members, including the chairperson so there is plenty of scope for appointing more educational people. There are an additional six places which the Minister can play around with.

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