Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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Question 582: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs his views on the proposals in the needs analysis research report compiled by an organisation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22717/08]

John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
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The Needs Analysis Research Report was compiled by an organisation funded under this Department's Community Development Programme. The Programme was established in 1990 to tackle exclusion, poverty and disadvantage. It provides funding to designated community development resource centres/projects in communities experiencing social and economic disadvantage. The projects, which are private, not for profit companies, provide a range of supports, development opportunities and services to groups of people and individuals within their areas of operation.

This particular organisation provides a range of services to people living in the East Wall area. It has a special focus on older people and has set up a number of projects and activities for them over the course of the last few years. They considered that there was a need to consult with local older people so that they could link more directly into their views, opinions and ideas. The consultation process and the resulting East Wall Older Persons Needs Analysis will help to ensure that services and projects are clearly influenced by the ideas and opinions of the older people themselves living in that community.

I believe that it is important that local people shape the services and development of projects, as these same local people are ultimately the beneficiaries.