Eugene Murphy (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

He brought in a lot of these because he saw schemes like these were needed in rural Ireland and the west of Ireland. They fill an important vacuum. The Minister of State is correct that he was down in County Roscommon and had a look at how the schemes were working and so on. For rural areas, particularly in the west, the community aspect of this is important. I know he understands that because I acknowledge that in his own role, he is giving money to a lot of rural causes - bits and pieces here that are important. It might not be huge money, but it is important. In a similar way, these people play roles in a community sense, by helping out with traffic, Tidy Towns and in a community centre. My God, it is invaluable. I think Deputy Ó Cuív referred to the fact that if we did not have those people how would the rest of us get around and do it with our busy lives? Now and again, we help out, but they are the people on the ground. I watch these schemes. I look at Kilbride Community Centre in County Roscommon, which the Minister of State knows of. It is extraordinary what they do with the help of schemes like this. There is also Kilmore in the same county.

First, I welcome that over-60s will be permitted to remain on the RSS until they reach 66 and there will be no requirement for a means test. When is it envisaged that will happen? Will it happen immediately or will it be on an onward basis before we get that announcement? Second, I want to throw something out with regard to childcare and childcare facilities and the difficulties many communities have getting workers in their excellent childcare facilities. I know the situations in one or two of them where young people - mainly young women - wanted to train in childcare. The local group was prepared to take them on. It appears to me, although I stand to be corrected, that with Tusla that is not allowed. I suggest that the Minister of State takes this back. If somebody is training in childcare, then this year of working 19 and a half hours per week would be part of their training. I throw that out because I think it would fill a vacuum. All of these childcare facilities are run by trained, professional people. If some young person is going in there, he or she will be under somebody who is supervising him or her. It could be a way to bring more workers into the system. I get it every week, despite all the improvements in childcare and what the Government is doing in that regard. I am told they cannot get staff. Is there a way we could have a radical shift and make this part of the training? We should look at that to see if it can happen. If it can, it might solve a huge problem for us in many parts of Ireland.