Mr. Denis Leamy:

I thank Deputy Nolan. As regards the PEACE programme, we sit on its monitoring committee and are involved with Co-operation Ireland and Ulster University in regard to the quality and impact body for the youth strand. It is early days in that regard. The effects of Brexit were to the fore of discussion at the PEACE monitoring committee over the past couple of years. There are now firm funding commitments from the Irish and British Governments and the European Union for the PEACE programme to be sustained in the coming years. It is to be welcomed that this has been overcome in recent times.

As regards our role, we are not a decision maker in terms of the PEACE programme although we sit on its monitoring committee. I am happy to bring the point raised by Deputy Nolan to the attention of the PEACE monitoring committee and the Special European Union Programmes Body.

On the programme being widened beyond the Border counties, I take it the Deputy was referring to it being spread more down South, as opposed to the Border region and the North. That is set in stone because the plans were approved by the European Union and the European Commission, which took a long time. It would be difficult to extend it at present but perhaps that should be considered for the next PEACE programme or whatever will follow in that regard.

I will ask Mr. Murphy to respond to the questions on Tús and JobPath.

We have a fairly defined role in regard to the Leader programme. It is not our call to have a review of the scheme but, rather, it is a decision for the Department. We meet the Department on a regular basis and reflect on the issues that have been raised, of which it is well aware. There will be a significant improvement in the uptake of the scheme in the coming months. It will then be time to consider what needs to happen in terms of sustaining it for the future.