Mr. Barry Sheridan:

We carry out an annual survey that give us raw data and evidence. In the past five weeks, I have seen probably 200 sheds and probably have been in ten to 12 counties and so I have seen every shed, including all the sheds in County Donegal. While the cost of insurance is a threat and a potential risk, the sheds have not closed because of insurance at present. From day one, we have always seen that some sheds might come and go but that can be for a variety of reasons. Sometimes, getting a premises can be a real issue, sometimes it is the ability to attract members and at other times, it can be a question of getting the funding, which includes being able to pay for items such as insurance. Insurance directly is not a core issue for the sustainability of sheds but is a potential threat which could really threaten the sustainability of sheds throughout the country. We are looking at it very closely. Sometimes smaller sheds with fewer than 15 members must pay more per head for insurance than a large group in an urban area with 40 to 50 members. We have raised our concern about this with the insurance companies and the companies are looking at that issue because it is a real issue. It is in small communities in rural areas that the men's sheds have a profound impact on the members and their community.