Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)

My colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Noel Ahern, has put the case on the regeneration issue very well because he understands it better than most. Regeneration attempts to give communities a fresh start and has been in operation since 2004. The evidence available to my Department suggests it is working well and it is included in this Bill only to allow us, having received legal advice, to avail of the opportunity to give it a more solid legal footing. There is no hidden agenda and the aim is only to continue a policy that has been in operation for a number of years. The Minister of State clearly explained the thinking behind this.

The changes relating to community welfare officers are fairly technical. I would not accuse the Deputies opposite of whipping up this matter but, I suspect, if this were not an election year the issue would not get the attention it is receiving.

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