Ms Grainne Fleming:

I thank the Deputy for asking the question. This is a major problem, not just for the PPN in Kildare, but for PPNs throughout the country. We are hosted in a number of different ways. The way in which we have been set up left the decision in the hands of very capable volunteers at the time. Twenty-one PPNs are hosted by the local authorities and the rest are split between private CLGs and hosting by third parties within the community. As a result of this, their staff are all on different terms and conditions. As can well be imagined, this leads to major difficulties within the organisation as a whole. We have no entitlements to sick leave or maternity leave. We have no entitlement to incremental increases year on year.

We have no right to permanent contracts in many cases. Our staff were never really in a position to look for mortgages, never mind short-term personal loans. The attrition levels within PPNs are a major concern for us. What we do is quite complex. We are very passionate about what we do, but unfortunately a huge amount of expertise is walking out the door on us every day. That is something we have to address. At least if we look at changing the way in which we are funded to a long-term model, it gives some level of stability to the really good people we have in place who are very experienced in what they do. It would certainly go a long way towards addressing some of the challenges we encounter.