Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I agree with Deputy Durkan that we should not demoralise community groups and, instead, we should support and help them. If we did not have these community groups to help provide certain social services, we would have a serious problem where Government or State agencies are not providing those services. That is why, earlier this year, I looked at the situation of some of these community groups in regard to the funding I had available. Whether it is the Tidy Towns or a show, for example, these give a village or a town a lift. That is why I launched the community enhancement programme through the amalgamation of two programmes, and provided €4.5 million. I let that funding move down to the LCDCs, into the local communities, so they can identify where the local needs are. I do not want people to allocate funding to an area that does not need it. I want to make sure the people on these committees identify where the needs are, and that is why we have put the funding in place.

The seniors alert scheme has been raised by the Deputy on many occasions. While there was funding in the kitty, it was not being drawn down. I will answer a question on that scheme later.

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