Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I asked this question because some of the schemes with which I am dealing are very frustrated that extensions are not being granted. Mr. Darragh O'Connor referred to a constant churn of people through organisations. In that context, there is no benefit to participants because they are halfway through courses when they are obliged to leave. Equally, there is no benefit to the scheme because it must begin again with someone new. This all takes a great deal of time. Three years is a very abnormal period nowadays and it would only be one year in the majority of cases. With the exception of the training and materials grant, this is nearly the equivalent of the position with regard to Tús courses. I do not know whether our guests are familiar with the suggestion to the effect that, with the exception of an element of training which might be provided by VECs in future, there is a move towards equating CE with Tús.