Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Department therefore relies on their availability and interest. Many of them have been both available and interested very often, and it is great to see the engagement so far. This year is different, however, with everybody experiencing their own knock-on effects of Covid, whether illness in the family, childcare arrangements or whatever. To confirm, this is a voluntary scheme. The Department cannot force people to participate.