Mr. Oliver Egan:

The previous budget required a reduction in the materials and training provision under the community employment scheme from approximately €24 million to €11 million. This led to considerable pressure in the earlier part of the year. As an interim measure, in the spring we guaranteed that no scheme would close while the review was ongoing. Subsequently, our teams around the country engaged in a series of detailed meetings and reviews with various community groups. The result was that, ultimately, additional funding was provided and the materials and training budget for this year is now approximately €20.5 million. This has addressed the issues from our perspective. We have built in a review mechanism to allow sponsors who believed they had a difficulty in their funding position to make an appeal. To date, about 12 appeals have been made in total and no sponsors of whom we are aware have had to cease owing to financial pressures. That is not to say, however, that there is not a need for greater efficiency and to put greater pressures on individuals. There is obviously pressure, but we believe the funding issue has largely been dealt with to the satisfaction of sponsors.