Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I appreciate Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan's sentiment and reasons. I understand exactly what she is saying coming from my own background and work over the years in my constituency. On the QCBI, it was an opportunity I saw to support organisations and communities in perhaps a new way and in addition to other investment going on. Part of the design was first of all to provide some moneys for what we call the SEED funding. I believe passionately that there is much creativity going on in communities that have less but want more for their children so that was what the SEED money was for. The SCALE money was for projects that were working and had demonstrated some effective outcomes. It was to increase their capacity and the extent of what it is they were doing. That was part of the underlying philosophy. We need to do that and perhaps we can reach people who have been working at the projects for a long time and are looking to increase what they are doing.

See this speech in context