Charlie O'Connor (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)

I acknowledge sincerely the co-operation of the Ceann Comhairle's office in allowing Deputy Crowe and I to raise an issue of serious concern to our community in Tallaght, where we live in the same estate. My son Robert made the point to me today that it is interesting to listen to Dáil proceedings when, as was the case this afternoon, we speak about issues such as the children of Pakistan, about whom much concern was expressed. The issue I want to raise is important for my constituency, and I acknowledge the presence of the Minister of State, Deputy Seán Power. It is also nice to see one of the Fianna Fáil vice-presidents, Michael Stokes, in the Visitors Gallery.

Tallaght west is an amazingly positive place which has been the subject of occasional bad publicity and a bad reputation over the years. Those of us who are honoured to represent the Tallaght west estates are anxious to paint a positive picture of the great communities of Jobstown, Fettercairn, Brookfield and Killinarden. My party leader, the Taoiseach, Deputy Bertie Ahern, made the point when he visited Jobstown on Monday last that he has visited Tallaght west on a number of occasions.

There is no doubt that much progress has been made recently in the community, which is only right. We now have in place a number of projects that we were waiting on for a long time. They include the building of the swimming pool in Jobstown, which is exciting everybody in the community, a new community centre in Brookfield and the need for a youth centre in Jobstown. Also, during the summer the Taoiseach opened the Citywise education project in Jobstown.

There is no question that the progress made on resources, facilities and infrastructure for the Tallaght west estates is only what the people deserve. I have always supported and been committed to a strong social inclusion policy for those Tallaght estates, which clearly need that assistance. In doing so I am following the example of my colleague, the former Minister of State, Chris Flood, who is also a long time colleague of the Leas-Cheann Comhairle and who strongly represented the Tallaght west area.

The initiative Deputy Crowe and I raise concerns a report, A Place for Children: Tallaght West, a living document, which is the result of a ten-year approach by the Childhood Development Initiative whose consortium includes An Cosán, Barnardos, Brookfield Headstart pre-school and crèche, the Health Service Executive, Integration of African Children in Ireland, the Jobstown child care centre, Killinarden school completion programme, Little Scholar's pre-school in Jobstown, the Rainbow House early education and child care centre, Scoil Chaitlín Maude and Naíonra Chaitlín Maude, Scoil Cnoc Mhuire in Knockmore, South Dublin County Council, the south Dublin child care committee, St. Aidan's and St. Bridget's national schools in Brookfield, St. Aidan's Traveller centre in Brookfield, St. Anne's primary school in Fettercairn, St. Louise's playgroup in Knockmore, St. Thomas's senior school in Jobstown, Tallaght Partnership, West Tallaght RAPID, the YMCA and Youth Horizons. That list is an indication of the importance of this child care initiative. We were all delighted to join the Taoiseach on Monday in a tent in the grounds of Kiltalown House near Jobstown. The event was attended by more than 900 children and some 400 adults. It was an amazing experience.

I said in an earlier debate that when I visited a local school last week, a youngster told me that road safety is not just for one day or one week but forever. It is important that we get the message across that it is not just about a launch or making a point on a day but asking Government to examine this serious report, which not only would be good for the Tallaght west estates but could be used as a model for the rest of the country.

I appeal to the Minister of State to get the message across to the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children and her colleagues, the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, the Minister for Education and Science and the Minister for Social and Family Affairs that it would be worth their while examining this report and taking action on it. As a Tallaght-based Fianna Fáil Deputy, I make a special appeal to the Minister of State to do what he can to help us ensure this report is resourced, which would give a tremendous boost to the Tallaght west estates. It would give the children of Tallaght west a great future. I make a special appeal to the Minister of State to help us in that regard.

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