Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)

I thank the Minister for his reply. As he acknowledged, I have been seeking a more wide-ranging debate on this matter for some time. I accept his point completely in regard to moneys owing to Revenue or to the Department of Social Protection. As I said, the figures from 2006 to 2010 show some €44 million going back to Revenue and approximately €1 million to the Department. I am not suggesting for one moment that these two pots of money should be ring-fenced for community funding purposes. I acknowledge that these are moneys that should have been gone to the State in any case. I have no issue with that. I am asking the Minister to review the other transferred money, namely, the €14 million from the proceeds of crime. He observed that such a scheme would be difficult to administer. Why could it not be done by the National Advisory Committee on Drugs or even the Health Service Executive, to give just two examples?

I do not accept the Minister's argument that such a scheme would have only superficial benefits. We are talking about communities under enormous pressure because of the economic circumstances in which we find ourselves. Most if not all community groups have been subjected to cuts in funding in recent years and are expecting more of the same in the future. I am arguing that there is an opportunity to ring-fence this particular allocation for the benefit of communities. I do not accept that this would run contrary to normal Estimates procedures. We only have to look to the introduction of the household charge to see how money can be ring-fenced if the political will exists to do so. What I have proposed could be introduced by way of a simple amendment to legislation. I understand the Minister is considering the introduction of legislation to provide enhanced powers to the CAB. That undertaking provides an opportunity at least to explore some of the proposals I have put forward. It would be a good day's work.

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