Jerry Buttimer (Cork South-Central, Fine Gael)

I join the Deputy in thanking and paying tribute to the Waterford Area Partnership, which does great work. On the day we met them, one would have to be blown away by the wonderful array of services and supports available.

Regarding the question on the community centres investment fund, CCIF, that is the Minister, Deputy Calleary's responsibility.

I am sure we will look at all applications when they come in. I am personally not aware of any engagement between the officials of the two Departments around the whole piece on the family resource centre and community centre. It is a bit like the Deputy's other question about the GAA and community shared collaborative spaces. Personally, I do not have an issue with different organisations coming together, whether it is sporting or voluntary, to have a community space. I am not saying this is the case in Waterford but as the Deputy knows, some groups could be territorial around buildings or land. I am not saying that is the case here but for me personally, it is about a collaborative community space and whatever we can do to ensure that facility there, then let us look at that.

In terms of Local Link, we have had a series of engagements. I met the people in Ring, as the Deputy knows, and we had a very good engagement. We spoke with officials from Local Link. I would not agree with the Deputy that it has not worked completely or it has broken down. I think it is working. I believe there have been some modifications to the stop since our meeting, and consultation is ongoing. I have not got an up-to-date position for today's meeting, but I am happy to talk to the Deputy about that again.

In the context of the charities and the imposition on groups, as somebody who is involved in the community voluntary sector myself, I am very much aware of the concerns of community groups. We met the Charities Regulator. We are about to start a new consultation process. I am acutely aware of the demands on the community voluntary sector, recognising that we have passed the Charities Act and that there has to be a certain level of oversight and governance and transparency, as the Deputy knows. I hear at first hand, however, in particular from smaller groups. In Cork, people talk to me about the demands being on them, and they have expressed that to the Charities Regulator. I will listen as part of the consultative process, however, and if we need to make changes or engage further and look at how we can work with the smaller groups then let us do that. To be fair, the Charities Regulator has a very open mind. It is independent, as the Deputy knows, and it is governed by the Act. However, it is about supporting, as we do in the Department, volunteerism and community groups. It is a central pillar of what we do. I am acutely conscious of some of the demands that have been put on people, and I get it from them. However, I will work with the sector to ensure that we have compliance that will not necessarily cost the end of the earth but can allow organisations to move forward and not discourage people from getting involved. As the Deputy said, some people are walking away, unfortunately. In my city of Cork, I met two or three people recently who spoke about the exact issue, but then there are more who are coming in because they see the importance of the adherence to the Charities Act as being an indemnity to them. It is, therefore, about getting it right. The key point I would make is that proportionality is the piece. I hear what the Deputy is saying, however.