Danny Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I was asked to highlight one further matter. As the Minister of State knows, Comharchumann Forbartha Chorca Dhuibhne is operating in west Dingle. One of the managers, whose name is Páidí Ó Sé, highlighted the problem it has getting people to participate in the community employment scheme. One of the difficulties the organisation is encountering is that people cannot be on the scheme after the age of 60. It is difficult to get people on these schemes because of reducing numbers. Youngsters have gone, people are emigrating and everything. Community employment does invaluable work for communities. The local authority is fine for certain things. Particularly in Gaeltacht areas I ask the Minister of State to look at the silly rule that people have to leave the scheme at 60 years of age. It should be extended to the normal pension age and the schemes should be allowed to operate away. Participants are only getting €20 more for their trouble, but they feel they are doing a service and the work gets them out of the house. It is good for their mind and for the organisations for which they are working.