Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

First, I apologise for not anticipating the absence of the Minister, Deputy Rabbitte. When I saw Deputy Penrose in the House, I was sure that Topical Issue No. 3 would be taken in its proper sequence. I apologise to the Minister, Deputy Hogan.

I understand that it is the Minister's intention not to fund directly any national networks under the new Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme, SICAP, which is the successor of the Local and Community Development Programme. We, in the previous Government, decided that there were certain issues that needed to be dealt with on a national basis - Travellers, women's issues, island issues - and we recognised that in some cases the local approach only did not fit the bill. I was surprised to hear that it is intended not to make the €1.3 million, and the programme, available to the National Collective of Community Based Women's Networks. Given there are 17 projects, this €1.3 million is quite a modest amount. It would amount to €76,000 on average per group, including the national office. The collective funds essential networks for women in the most disadvantaged of the communities.

It is fair to say that we are not doing enough to tackle disadvantage. When I was Minister, it always amazed me that I could get plenty of notice for rural issues and island issues, but when one talked about urban disadvantage it was difficult to generate any interest from the media for the plight of those living in disadvantaged communities. If I might say so, women, in particular, in disadvantaged communities, face considerable challenges and are often the subject of significant disadvantages.

I ask the Minister to revisit his decision and recognise that some things are done better with a dedicated national programme, that the idea of incorporating the collective into the new SICAP will not work because in each of the areas in which there is one of these women's networks he is depending on the local bidder to put an equivalent programme in place with equivalent funding. I do not think that will happen. A important service serving a huge range of people will lose out. I ask the Minister to reconsider this decision and continue to provide the service to the 36,589 women who have been benefiting from this service and who, in my view, will not get the same service in the new arrangement.

When a good suggestion is made, it is good to listen. I compliment the Minister's colleague, Deputy Rabbitte. When this Dáil came together, there was a debate for an hour and a half on the oil and gas exploration sector and I suggested that we put the matter to good analysis in an Oireachtas committee. The committee put forward a comprehensive report, including new oil and gas terms. In fairness to the Minister, Deputy Rabbitte, he announced today that he will implement substantially the recommendations of that all-party committee, including Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael, Labour, Sinn Féin and Independents, and change gas exploration. We must learn in this Dáil that if a suggestion is good, no matter from where its comes, as Deputy Rabbitte certainly accepted, it should be taken on board.

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