Marie Louise O'Donnell (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I would like to focus on the Gateway initiatives. Like Deputy Daly, I believe this is a brilliant idea. I was not aware it was initiated by Deputy Daly.

Currently, people are living in their heads and watching television, with no physicality, which is part of the problem. I do not believe it has been communicated well enough to the public that this initiative is about another way of being intellectual. There is a belief that unless a person has his or her head in a book he or she has no sense of intellect. What we need is a return to crafts and skills.

Has Gateway commenced or is it still at Garda vetting stage? What cities and councils have taken up the gauntlet? Is there a dedicated person within cities and councils to operate it? Reference was made to identifying and selecting persons at random. As stated by Deputy Ó Snodaigh, can people not randomly identified or selected apply? If so, how do they do so? It is a relevant question because there are people who might like to do many of the jobs listed.

That a placement ends after 22 months and a person cannot reapply until three years after this is highly defeatist, particularly for a person who is good at and enjoys the job and likes being outdoors. How many letters have been sent out and how many people have engaged or refused to engage with the scheme? Will this initiative be funded through the €6 billion in European funding to address unemployment in the 18 to 24 age bracket? Would it be possible to extend this initiative into the private sector given the limited number of jobs currently available under the scheme? Given the stated philosophy of this is job provision outdoors, I do not believe libraries should be part of it. There are many areas that could benefit, including our seas, rivers, flora and fauna and land. Also, what is meant by "brown field site remediation"? It is important we are imaginative and artistic about this and that it does not end up being about, as stated by Deputy Collins, people putting on gloves and cleaning. I would welcome a response to my questions.