John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister. First and foremost, I disagree with the comment of the Minister that there is no longer need to have RAPID areas. Such areas are the most disadvantaged urban areas. The problems that existed ten and 20 years ago in many of those communities exist to this very day. They do not need a level playing field; they need positive discrimination to support them and to give them an opportunity they have never had before. The merging of these two programmes means the clarity that existed previously, where there was identified targeted funding to the most disadvantaged communities, has been taken away.

The report on why these programmes should be merged has no basis. It is a convenience rather than a practicality. The Minister has walked away from those most disadvantaged communities. I am not opposed to the community enhancement programme. I am not opposed to any of the groups getting funding. What I am opposed to is that urban disadvantaged areas, which have been disadvantaged for many years and which came through the last recession having seen their funding cut, now see that when funding is reintroduced, it is not prioritised and targeted towards those with greatest need.

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