Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I have already been told that in the period from January to April there will be a cut of approximately 6%. It is important that the Minister meet the groups in question and listen to their concerns. The statistics are available. This area has the highest number of unemployed persons, as well as the highest number of lone parents. I am unsure whether the allocation model to which the Minister referred is getting to the core of all of the issues involved. I will outline one story. I attended a project graduation ceremony recently. Certificates were given to those who had undergone training and some of the graduates were not able to attend. Why? The reason was they were in work. That shows how these projects in communities are working. I am keen for the Minister to take the opportunity, if only for a short period, to hear about the work being done because sometimes these organisations and individuals are lost in the percentages and models to which the Minister referred. Is the Minister prepared to meet them?

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