Catherine Byrne (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael)

I thank the Ceann Comhairle for allowing me to raise this issue on the Adjournment. I wish the Acting Chairman, Deputy Charlie O'Connor, and the Minister of State, Deputy Moloney, good morning. For many people living in the Kimmage, Walkinstown, Crumlin, Drimnagh, Terenure - KWCDT - Partnership area, this is not a good morning, particularly for the 50 people whose jobs will probably be lost in the coming weeks.

This is the sad result of Pobal's decision to withdraw funding from the KWCDT Partnership. Since its inception in 1994, the partnership has worked closely with many small organisations in the community, including child care, community and women's action groups, many of which would not secure funding in normal circumstances. For many of these groups, the withdrawal of the partnership from the area will make their success stories a dream of the past. Sadly, the future of the partnership and many groups working in the area is under threat. Many of these small organisations have developed over the years through funding from the KWCDT Partnership and Pobal. The news in the past couple of days that the Minister has decided to liquidate the partnership and assume responsibility for funding partnership areas is a major blow to the community of Dublin 12, in which the Acting Chairman has a strong interest.

Despite many appeals from action groups and politicians, including members of the Fianna Fáil Party, little was done in the appeal process to enable the KWCDT Partnership to remain in place. What will happen to many of the small groups working in the area? How will they be able to continue to serve the community as they have done for the past 15 years? These vital groups, which have developed in the community, include organisations involved in child care and women's groups working with young people.

A dark cloud hangs over Dublin 12 as a result of the withdrawal of funding for the partnership. While I have had issues with many of the partnerships in the community in which I have served and worked, there is a real need for partnership, especially in the severely deprived areas of Crumlin and Drimnagh. The House has discussed cases of violence and intimidation in the Dublin 12 area on many occasions. The Minister must consider that the disbandment of the KWCDT Partnership will mean that many small groups with which it is currently associated will no longer have opportunities to facilitate young people.

I appeal to the Minister of State to give me the answers I have sought unsuccessfully for the past couple of weeks in order that I can inform people in the Crumlin, Drimnagh and Walkinstown areas about what will happen to many small groups and the 50 people they employ in the coming weeks and how we will be able to sustain some community benefits in the Dublin 12 area in the coming months.

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