Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy O'Sullivan for her contributions to the overall report during the course of many discussions we had in the north inner city and here at Government Buildings. She is aware that the report presented by Mr. Kieran Mulvey is both comprehensive and inclusive. It was produced as a consequence of a great deal of discussions that took place in the north inner city. On foot of the report, quite a number of smaller projects have already commenced or are in the process of being completed.

It is also a fact that an office is to be opened in the north inner city to deal with transparency and accessibility and to be a constant reminder of the reasons why this was set up in the first place. This will also be monitored from my Department, in the same way as the action plan for jobs and such like, where reports are produced every three months so that people can see the progress being made. Rather than give the Deputy a date for such a meeting now, I will report to the House on the basis of that office being set up, the system in respect of monitoring from my Department and the independent person being appointed to work together with Dublin City Council, without whose assistance this could not have been done and for which we are very grateful. I will then advise the Deputy of an appropriate date for meeting.

I take the Deputy's point about community involvement. There are some powerful leader personalities in the north inner city. They are all focused on doing the very best for their communities and the general area. That is why it is important that the report is not just left lying there but that it is implemented in a transparent, accountable way so that the people can see the opportunities and facilities being provided. As one young man said on the presentation of the report, one's background or the location where one was born should never be an obstacle or a prohibition to getting a job. Is that not what this is about?

I again thank the Deputy for her contribution.

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