Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State. I recognise the extraordinary efforts his Department and the wider Government services have put into this task. At a time when some people are trying to undermine the work of the Government and create division within the community, we need to step up our innovation in the approach to integration. There is a need for funds that involve local community organisations, such as the GAA or partnership companies, which are a very powerful local group. It is about addressing challenging issues such as the lack of childcare for young mothers, for example, who are trying to take part in language courses and advance themselves. As there are so many elements to integration and 125,000 people to reach, we need to have a fund on a bigger scale than the one the Minister of State is now trying to manage. I call for that strategy to be brought forward quickly in order that we can see genuine innovation in this space beyond what is already being done.

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