Mr. William Parnell:

I will answer the issues relating to The Wheel and regional assemblies first and then perhaps Ms de Brúch can answer the questions about the boats and the services to the islands.

The Deputy asked about The Wheel and Irish Rural Link. Their involvement in Community Call was part of a wider effort to mobilise community organisations and volunteers at the start of the Covid-19 crisis. The two organisations in question were identified because of their outreach to local communities and they were involved in the community outreach initiative for a period of three months. The Deputy will probably be aware that each local authority set up a forum to provide a co-ordinated approach to the community response and community champions were appointed in each local authority area to help deal with the position. We have certainly been in a different position over the past number of months compared to where we were in March. Back in March it was a case of having to move very quickly to try to bring together all the people who could help support communities and support people who may have been in danger of isolation. That was the context of the involvement of The Wheel and Irish Rural Link.

I will have to come back to the Deputy on the number of applications under the stability fund.