Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The Minister of State referred to compliance with fire safety regulations and we all accept the need for such compliance. In this case, it is the reason for the crisis because the community centre must get funding or it will close its doors. Closure would have catastrophic consequences for the area in terms of childcare, sporting and community facilities. As Deputy Coppinger noted, the complicated ownership presents a difficulty. The board of the community centre was told that no financial assistance will be provided by the technical owner of the centre. This is, to all intents, a completely voluntary effort and there is no private gain. The State should provide a safety net for so many important services. I would appreciate if the Minister for Rural and Community Development would meet Deputy Coppinger, Deputy Burton and me, and perhaps also the Taoiseach, to find a funding mechanism that would avoid so many important services in our community falling off a cliff edge.

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