Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)

I was stunned yesterday to hear that the closure is imminent of the Inchicore community development project. Obviously, I am aware, as has been publicised since, that there is a criminal investigation into the misappropriation of funds in regard to this project. I wish the Garda well in that because the only person who looks like benefiting from this is the person guilty of the fraud, embezzlement or whatever has occurred. The decision of the Department to advise the community development project in Inchicore that it would not give it any more funding means not only that three people are out of work but also that a community which has already been severely affected by the current crisis, and previous non-investment, will suffer further.

I appeal to the Minister to think again about the decision to withdraw funding, to deal with the misappropriation of funds and to come up with a mechanism to prevent that type of carry-on happening again in the Inchicore community development project or any community development project. He should deal directly with it but he should not withdraw funding from an area which has in recent months been told the entire regeneration of St. Michael's estate will not go ahead. In the past month, it was told that eight of the projects by Dublin City Council have been deferred, some until 2012 at the earliest. This is an area with a new sports hall which cannot run at full capacity because the Government cannot match funding. It has suffered severely for many years because of a drugs crisis and under-investment.

On top of this, the community is now being told that the CDP, in which a great deal of time was invested to build it up to what it is today, will be forced to close due to what I understand are the activities of one person. This is despite the fact that a voluntary board has spent a great deal of time helping to prepare the work programme of the CDP which, in particular, addresses the needs and concerns of the elderly and new communities in Inchicore.

It is suggested that this work will be absorbed by other community groups. However, we are all aware of the problems and restrictions which other community groups work under and they will not have the capacity to absorb the valuable work in which the Inchicore CDP was involved. Even at this late stage, will the Minister of State re-examine addressing this without withdrawing funding and closing Inchicore CDP?

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