Eugene Murphy (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I will be brief, as much of what I intended to say has been mentioned by other members. I also know that Deputy Canney and Senator Garvey are under pressure to get away too.

I wish to first recognise, as other people have done, the huge contribution the schemes have made to society, particularly in the west and midlands. The schemes have been hugely beneficial and are very important. From a community perspective, it is terrible to think that these schemes would not have the back-up or support and such a situation would be met with an absolute horror factor from the public. I know how important these schemes have been to every aspect of life in my own region and throughout County Roscommon.

I wish to mention one thing, which has been referred to by a number of people here. We should never overlook what these schemes have done for people who find themselves in difficult situations. I mean people who just cannot go to certain jobs, such as people who have mental health issues or family pressures.

The way those people are nurtured and looked after is extraordinary. I see that all over the region. Sometimes I know those people because I have been very much involved in community work all of my life and I know one has to be very patient. One might not get much out of that individual for the first three or four months but gradually, when they get involved in Tidy Towns, a sports field scheme or some other scheme in a community centre, they can turn out to be really fantastic people. When they get a bit of confidence they become very proud of the work they are doing.

I have two very simple questions. Would our guests agree that the one-year Tús schemes are too short? Some supervisors have said to me that people are barely on a Tús scheme, getting to know people and getting to know the ropes, when they have to leave it again. That might be one of the requests to the Department, to expand the Tús schemes to at least two years. Taking on board what was said earlier, is it time to revolutionise the schemes? Given the way the jobs market is now and given the pressure that supervisors are under with all of the work involved, do we not really need a revolution in all of those schemes and more engagement with the Department to make that happen? What requests would the witnesses have of this committee? Would they take those two requests on board for us to bring forward to the Department to make immediate progress on?