Mr. Brian Kehoe:

I want to mention the Tús scheme, which scheme that covers all of Ireland, both urban and rural, but is a key support for rural areas in particular. It is a work placement programme, as the committee probably knows, which provides 12 months' work experience in a community. It plays a huge role in maintaining services, providing facilities and maintaining those facilities in rural areas. The criteria are quite stringent in that participants have to leave the scheme after a 12-month period. The criteria to come onto the scheme could also be relaxed. Without the rural social scheme and Tús, many services would close and many facilities would not be maintained properly. Some rural areas are at breaking point as there simply are not enough people to maintain facilities in particular.

What has been really positive over the past 10 or 12 years is that the State has invested hugely in community facilities with local groups. However, there is a challenge to maintain those facilities and run them properly. We can rely on local volunteerism but we all know that is stretched at the moment. Schemes such as Tús and the RSS are key to maintaining those services and facilities in rural areas.