The delivery of community services is to be overhauled by the end of the year to ensure people are not overlooked because of where they live, the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs said today.
Speaking today, Éamon Ó Cuív said "pockets of disadvantage" could no longer be allowed to go unnoticed and unaided just because they happened to be outside areas where services are focused.
Services are currently provided through Partnership Companies and Leader Groups that are focused on areas of disadvantage.
"Currently, if you live in Blanchardstown for example and are unemployed, a lone parent, a person with a disability, a Taveller, or facing economic hardship, your local Partnership Company can offer you a range of services," said Mr Ó Cuív.
"However, if you live in a council housing estate in Howth or Lucan and your community needs those services just as much, it's just bad luck, because there is no local partnership for you. That is absolute madness and I cannot allow it to continue."
Community programmes planned for the period 2007-2013 will have to address new and emerging challenges such as immigration.
In rural areas, services will be delivered by a single company in each area, and all areas of the country will now be covered by Partnership Companies.
Mr Ó Cuív said services for disadvantaged people in both urban and rural Ireland have developed over time in a haphazard, unco-ordinated way.
"As a consequence, there are people who urgently need services from the State but who are not getting them," he said.
The overhaul is the result of a cohesion process begun in 2003 with a review of local and community development programmes by the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and the Department for Justice, Equality and Law Reform.