Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)

The Minister of State has been talking about many issues but he gave one very good example of Fianna Fáil preparation for the axe when referring to community development projects. He stated how they have to evolve and that sometimes evolution includes disappearance off the face of the earth. The latter is the case because the Minister of State's Department will not provide organisations with the required money. It is all about money but the Minister of State did not provide any money for the taskforce. None of the recreational facilities was provided through the taskforce. It was through other agencies and local campaigns therefor. There is no sign of citizenship awards, as proposed by Deputy Durkan. Perhaps the Minister gave a few bob out of the €56,000 to prepare the report in that regard. I suppose that is what that money was for.

The Minister may be correct in stating the taskforce is a waste of money and time, and that he has dispensed with it and scattered whatever is left of it around the other Departments. Will he confirm it is dead so we will not have to spend another three quarters of an hour in six months repeating the same questions?

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