Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

4 o’clock

First of all, I would never see something like this as a box-ticking exercise. All my life I have been committed to the idea of dealing with the vulnerable, those living in poor conditions and those in disadvantaged communities. For example, I believe the RAPID programme of earlier years was an effective multisectoral multidepartmental approach to dealing with urban disadvantage and urban issues. The forerunner of that programme, the drugs task force areas programme, likewise took a holistic approach to development within particular communities with some success. Education and early intervention at childcare level and in the early years of primary education were the key with higher resources being allocated to the pupil-teacher ratio in schools in such areas. Now the DEIS programme has replaced all of that. Our party introduced DEIS some time ago to target resources where they were most needed and most effective.

I will talk to the board about the idea of commissioning a review. In addition, the new Minister with responsibility for community affairs will be looking at this in terms of the broader application of this model to other areas.

One area we need to integrate into this programme is housing. I remember touring the area with Senator Mary Fitzpatrick and meeting all the groups. There is a need to look at the housing part of this to assist the local community as part of the wider level of supports that are available. The Secretary General of my Department chairs the oversight group. The chairperson and the board report on a regular basis to the Secretary General, so we are keeping a close eye on this with a view to ensuring the 54 actions are implemented.

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