Cyprian Brady (Fianna Fail)

I welcome the opportunity to speak on this Bill. As the Minister of State observed, the legislation is concerned with streamlining an important process. One must consider the areas to which these funds are being allocated and the impact they are having and Senator McHugh sought clarification on this point. The answer is obvious and is indicated in the explanatory memorandum and is explained in detail in the Bill. These are areas of social, educational and economic disadvantage and surely Senator McHugh would recognise such an area if he saw it. As he correctly observed, my constituency is an area designated for both the RAPID programme and the drugs task force scheme. I was privileged to be involved at the foundation of the task forces, which was an initiative that came from the community.

There has been much talk of the community and voluntary sector but I find myself in the unfamiliar position of observing that Senator O'Toole is being a little naive in his comments regarding the allocation of the funds and the decision as to same. We are talking about a fund of €250 million and one could spend a sizeable portion of that travelling around the country to ask each voluntary organisation how much it requires and for what purpose. The provisions of the Bill will avoid that and it is to be welcomed from that perspective.