Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

That is not true. With regard to the community enhancement scheme, I have brought that down to the local authorities. I refer to the local community development committees, LCDCs. The Deputy always puts his hands up in the air. He reminds me of an umpire who gets it wrong when the ball goes wide. He does not know where he is; he wants the cameras. I am going to give him the figures. Very simply, I have brought this down to the local authorities, the LCDCs. Who knows best in Galway, Mayo, Cork, Kerry, Laois or Dublin where the poverty is and where the funding is needed most? The complaint the Deputy had on the last occasion was that I was not giving enough money to the bigger areas. I have done that. I started off with a base amount of €125,000. Then I took into account the areas based on their populations. Let me give examples of the areas that got the most funding. Cork city got €459,000 and Dublin city got €1,329,000. Fingal got €477,000 and South Dublin got €737,000. These are areas with real problems and difficulties. This explains the position regarding the community enhancement programme and SICAP. The latter has been a brilliant success. One hundred and ten thousand people have been dealt with and supported on a one-to-one basis. Five thousand-----

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