Mr. Jerry Murphy:

Deputy Hopkins specifically raised a point about men's clubs for those over 65 years in the area. It was the case up to 1 January that they could not apply but now they are eligible, subject to the fact that SICAP funding overall is aimed at addressing disadvantage. The funding would need to be for those over 65 years in a disadvantaged area. Disadvantage is the common factor for all SICAP funding. Anyway, those over 65 years are now included.

This is a good example of the fact that as we have left the economic crisis, the Government has had an ability to move on. The last programme was focused on getting people into jobs. The entire allocation was skewed towards working-age people who were unemployed. However, as we have moved away from that, the Government has been able to broaden the categorisation. I hope that example will be useful for Senator Hopkins.

The issue of supports for boards and volunteers was raised. We accept absolutely that it is critical for relevant infrastructure to be supported. Pobal tries to undertake a series of practical roles. We produce sets of materials under a general heading of managing better. They give guidance for voluntary boards about how to carry out the management of Government funding etc. The documents are currently being rewritten. At the end of the first quarter, they will be reissued in updated form to include the most recent changes in legislation etc. We try to ensure that Pobal keeps in mind the types of boards that are applying for funding. When we write guidance material, we try to ensure it is accessible to the groups that most need the money.

I reiterate my earlier point about the fact that so many more legislative demands arise now regarding data protection, child protection and so on and we have to face up to them. If we do not, we could potentially be putting groups into a difficult position. For example, let us suppose a group took on the management of money. Then, three years later an audit is done and someone says the group did not obey the law. We have to cover all those areas. We try to act as a bridge so that there is at least a translation of the materials to make them as accessible as possible.

The scheme to support national organisations operates through Pobal. It is a Government scheme organised through the Department of Rural and Community Affairs. The scheme funds several umbrella groups. One function of these groups is to be as supportive as possible, especially to communities of interest throughout the country that fit under particular types of headings, including headings of disability, educational or young people.

A range of communities are covered. This is close to our hearts and the philosophy of what we need to be doing.