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

I understand Pobal administers a large part of the programme. Is the Minister personally consulted before any scheme is reduced or closed? Pobal has previously made bad recommendations regarding the kinds of service in question. Will the Minister reassure me that no scheme will be reduced or closed without his personal say so?

As part of the review, will the Minister consider costing a doubling of the scheme's size? More than 2,000 full-time equivalents would be needed to provide all of the community services, some of which have a semi-economic basis, while others are of significant social importance, for example, community halls, while also generating some income. The Minister's costing could take into account the savings that would be made in the social welfare budget. It is all taxpayers' money. If the State saves with one hand and spends with the other, the taxpayer only has to worry about the net cost.

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