Mr. Jerry Murphy:

I would like to give an example of some of the things we have been trying to do recently concerning the demands on groups which we absolutely accept is the case. As an organisation working on behalf of the Government, we are channelling many services through local communities. If we do not actively support them, we will all lose, including communities. The senior alert scheme is a good example of where there has been a series of changes in legislation which have lead to more onerous demands being placed on groups. Garda vetting is one such demand. The group is linking directly with vulnerable older people in their homes and the law now provides that the person who goes to people's homes has to be vetted. That is a large additional burden on a group. We have tried to put processes in place in order that we can make these arrangements for groups in order that they will not have to carry all of the bureaucracy. We have also taken other bits of the bureaucracy off them that they had to manage in the past, in particular finding all of their own equipment and going through tendering processes. We now control these things centrally. We have worked with local volunteer centres to make the Garda vetting process available to them. The feedback we are getting is that once people have been through the training process, the committees see that they have to be on board in dealing with the issues they might have viewed as a burden previously. We are the messengers and the face of the centre for groups and making these demands.

On further professional development in the early years sector, I point to two things. The Department of Children and Youth Affairs has been providing money for us for a number of years for an active learner fund that offers direct funding for training for people within the early years sector. It has been an effective fund and very useful for people within the sector. I flag that there is work ongoing between us and the Department of Children and Youth Affairs to look at the further need for professional development and how it could be delivered. It is a need which is very much a recognised within the sector. We are aware that the Department of Children and Youth Affairs is looking at it and we will be supporting it in that regard.