Government community development structures are so numerous and "hotch-potch" that they have had bizarre consequences, the Dáil was told. The Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Mr O'Cuiv, highlighted the impact of the structures on one of the offshore islands which has a population of 200.
"I was informed that because of structures which Government had created in a hotch-potch manner, the community development organisation on the island had 20 bank accounts," he said.
"That represented one community bank account for every 10 people on the island, but there was probably no money in most of them."
The Minister is undertaking a review of community and local development structures and is expected to bring proposals to Government by Christmas.
During Question Time he said there were two steps involved. One was to "stop the ever-growing number of bodies adding to complications for citizens, and the second is to try and rationalise and make more efficient that which exists".
He said there was an ever-growing number of organisations being established and "I get confused as to what all these bodies are doing".
Those working in the system "will always emphasise the reason their job is most important, and that is understandable. Most people see the solution to excessive bureaucracy in terms of adding more staff, rather than seeking to simplify the situation."
He told Mr Seymour Crawford (FG, Cavan-Monaghan) that it did not matter how much money was involved.
"That is the mistake people make. They think that if money is plentiful there is an excuse not to examine best practice in the system and that we should continue to live with the old systems all the time. I do not agree with that," he said. People wanted some order and rationality brought to this sector.
Mr Crawford said there was a huge amount of administration in accountancy matters. Some people spent a day and a half a week dealing with the information demanded by Government Departments in general. He asked how this could be justified.
The Minister said he was "of one mind" with Deputy Crawford and he had repeatedly said to community groups that "this is as much an examination of what all of us in Government have done over the years to add to these structures as it was an examination of the groups concerned."
