Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

That scheme belongs to the Department of Social Protection. However, there is a special Cabinet sub-committee and I will raise the issue of the rural social scheme there. That sub-committee holds to account every Department that relates to rural Ireland. They will be asked the relevant questions concerning what they are doing for rural Ireland. The Taoiseach chairs that sub-committee, which is a very good one.

A sub-committee was established for the 1916 commemorations, which worked well and made things happen. Even though some things might appear to be under my Department's aegis, I attend that sub-committee with the Ministers of State, Deputy Ring and Deputy Kyne. We want to know what these Departments are doing for rural Ireland and how the rural social scheme is working.

The other day, we handled the issue of rural post offices, which was raised. We got a commitment that staff of the Department of Social Protection will explain what is happening in that respect. Every time they get a form for a payment, they will ask the applicant if they want to collect the payment in their local post office. Those are the kinds of things that can happen at the sub-committee. I take the Deputy's point about the rural social scheme and I will raise it at the relevant sub-committee.

Roads come under the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport. However, that Department's officials attend the Cabinet sub-committee and we will raise those issues with them there.