Kevin Humphreys (Dublin South East, Labour) | Oireachtas source

If the Deputies will forgive me, I will depart from the script that has been circulated. This matter involves substantial funding. A sum of €600,000 will be paid over three years. In many ways, Pobal is a gatekeeper, and we have to make sure this money is spent correctly. The provision of such funding over a three-year contract is a fantastic asset to local communities. This is the first time this contract has come up for renewal, while approximately 140 contracts come up for renewal on a regular basis. Pobal, therefore, acts as the gatekeeper to make sure the criteria attaching to the funding are met. There will be no reduction in funding. The money is available and we want to spend it, but we want to make sure that happens in the best interest of the communities and, therefore, the criteria must be met. For example, there must be transparency in how the money is spent and in respect of community access to the facilities, which are jointly managed by DCC and the ETB.

The four of us were members of Dublin City Council and I worked with Deputies Eric Byrne and Catherine Byrne on the provision of both these centres, because I was chairman of the VEC when these developments were proposed. They are fantastic facilities. I am concerned by Deputy Eric Byrne's comment that councillors are calling for public meetings on issues for which they are responsible. While the contract is with the ETB, DCC is also involved.

Councillors have representation on the education and training boards. When I was a councillor, I took full responsibility for the electoral mandate I had and dealt with the problems raised regarding this issue. I am quite satisfied that we can resolve it, but there must be engagement, and there must be a contract. All four of us will agree that we must ensure that the money involved, which is over €600,000, is spent in the interests of the two communities. I am happy to work with the Deputies if there are further issues of concern, but we must ensure when we are spending taxpayers' money that it is spent in the right areas, with the right intentions for the outcome of those communities. I will work with members of all parties and none to ensure that happens. I thank the Deputies for raising the matter. There are issues that need to be raised with the local public representatives regarding their own governance of it. The Deputies will have dealt with those issues at council level before, but the contract is with the CDETB and with Dublin City Council, which operates it. I want to see those two centres and those two communities thrive, and I will do everything I can to assist.

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