Pat Carey (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)

My Department does not have a direct role in delivering any or most of these projects, but nonetheless, as we all know from experience, community development projects have developed. In my time at that Department, considerable rationalisation was undertaken on community development projects. I heard criticisms from Members from all sides of the House about the lack of capacity community development projects to deliver the outcomes that they were expected to deliver, without adequate support and without adequate linkages. Where those linkages exist, be they with area based partnerships or even the local authority, then there are far better outcomes.

There are excellent models of integration in the Deputy's own constituency which are part of LDSIP for the last three, four or more years. The Minister of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs has been heavily involved in that and I know that the Deputy has more than a passing knowledge of what has been attempted and achieved.

The Deputy also spoke about the group scheme. The group scheme is still there, with a code of practice that is working extremely well. There is an intention to change the group scheme which is being negotiated and renewed each year. The Department appointed consultants to research issues arising from the electoral commission and to recommend a way forward. The consultants' report was received by the Minister late last year. He subsequently published a consultation report in February 2009, with a closing date of 26 June. The establishment of the commission will be a major body of work, with issues arising for consideration including international best practice, the commission's structure and functions, whom it reports to, its relationship with other bodies currently involved in the approach to be followed on the extensive legislation that will be required.

The Deputy raised the issue of North-South linkages, and this is one of the areas in which really excellent work is being done. The Belfast and Dublin education exchange programme is an initiative which takes groups of young people from similar backgrounds on a North South basis, and invites them to meet and discuss common interests. The civic link project, which was launched in 1999, aims to build positive relationships between young people North and South. It is an action learning project where young people are forced to explore their own communities and the issues that affect them. The European studies project is a post-primary school programme that is curriculum with a strong ICT element. The Washington Ireland programme has been in operation since 1995. It extends opportunities to promising university students from Northern Ireland and the Republic to partake in summer career training and professional development in the US, mainly in Washington. However, I happened to be in Milwaukee earlier this year and I met four people from Northern Ireland and four from the South of Ireland working there and discussing issues to do with event management and so on. I certainly was extremely proud of them, and I would invite any Member to meet with them. The Irish Peace Institute is an NGO committed to the just and peaceful transformation of violent conflict. Its projects involve bands performing together from cross-community and cross-Border schools over a three day period.

These are just some of the examples of the initiatives that have been taken, not directly by my Department, but by a number of other Departments. The Depaul Trust is a project in this city that has been ongoing for a number of years. It particularly targets those people who do not register or, if they do, do not participate in the electoral process. That has been quite successful. It works in my own constituency. I have seen it in Finglas and Ballymun. I certainly know it works in Tallaght and in other places throughout this city. I am sure it operates elsewhere also. It is not fair to say these recommendations and suggestions by the task force are not being followed through. There is no doubt that some require further resources. However, there is a strong commitment on my part and that of the steering committee to progress every recommendation as well as possible.

Some discussions recently took place with the President's office regarding a President's award and how it could be progressed further.

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