Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I agree with Deputy Broughan's sentiments. I have visited some of the communities in Limerick and Dublin and in some rural areas. We have the community enhancement programme, the RAPID programme and the community facility programme. I joined two of the schemes together because the grant aid provided was small. Local community development committees, LCDs, community groups, elected representatives and chambers of commerce can identify the areas most in need of grant aid. I accept that the amount of grant aid available is not significant.

The inner city is not Deputy Broughan's area of Dublin but we provided €3.5 million for it given the level of need and demand. Cherry Orchard received funding last year because of the problems associated with the area. The community had raised its own funds. It has a large hinterland and it had no centre. I agree with what Deputy Broughan has said. I want to see communities such as the one he has spoken about supported. Now that the economy is beginning to lift I want to see places like that getting the same opportunity. A total of €190 million is available under the SICAP programme over five years. I want to target disadvantage in communities on an individual basis and help the citizens who might not have got a chance in recent years. Many people have been targeted through the SICAP programme in particular in recent years and they have set up their own businesses. Some of them have accessed further education. We are now creating jobs for them. We must give them the opportunity and the supports.

See this speech in context