Kathleen Funchion (Carlow-Kilkenny, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank everyone for their contributions. There is a huge amount of crossover, which is helpful for us when we are looking at this area. I want to very briefly mention the school completion programme. I am a massive advocate of that. We have a great programme in Kilkenny. Like the youth sector, it is one that is lesser known. I have sometimes come across people who actually think the school completion programme is about the completion of school buildings. That always amuses me. It is a great service because it is totally based on the needs of the child. I have come across it a lot and I think it is a good one. Whenever we have the opportunity to mention it I like to try to get it in. We would be conscious of the mix of rural and urban. We have a good mix of both in our constituency but transport is the number one issue for young people in rural areas who cannot get to or access services.

Parents may not be in a position to help with that, particularly depending on what the service or what the activity is. That is a major issue.

What we see happening more now is young people taking a chance and driving in all sorts of circumstances where they should not do so. This is a major issue. It comes back to some of the issues about which we spoke in regard to matters operating in silos. Obviously, there is a role for the Department of Transport in that regard, particularly in the context of rural communities. So much of this is down to the fact that the Department is dealing with too much. I do not know if I am going outside my remit as Chair in saying that. However, we work very well as a committee. We have a range of issues with which to deal. We actually see at first hand how much work the Department has on hand because we are its shadow committee. Perhaps youth work has unintentionally become the poor relation in that regard. There is so much involved. Many of the sections within the Department have their own specific and niche individual issues. Much of what has been said about going back to strategies that were there and which just need to be funded or given a bit more focus is helpful to us in our work. However, a good point was made, namely, that there is a huge amount involved in this. It went from just children and youth affairs to encompassing so many other issues, all of them important. There is a great deal involved.

I really just wanted to make those comments as opposed to ask any questions. I found many of the observations, such as those in the NYCI's submission on the lack of data, to be very interesting. We will look at all of that when we are compiling our follow-up report.

I thank the witnesses and members. We need now to get agreement to publish the opening statements on the website. Is that agreed? Agreed.