Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State. I am very much in favour of any focussed intervention working to eradicate disadvantage and to give those who are at a disadvantage that step up that could make life much more of a level playing field. I think of my constituency in Dublin Central and the appalling conditions and circumstances affecting two groups in particular. I refer to older people, who are not within the remit of the Minister of State, Deputy Zappone, and younger people and children. This is all to be welcomed but we have had this discussion before. Sometimes I feel we do not look at what is there and what is best practice in what is there already. Quite some time ago we had the young people's facilities and services funding, YPFSF, to tackle those areas that were most at risk. I know that was in respect of drugs and drug addiction but I think there was a model there. Sometimes we throw out the baby with the bath water. It is a pity we have not gone back to that model to see if we can build on it. That is my reasoning on this.

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