Joe Carey (Clare, Fine Gael)
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I thank Deputy Fitzmaurice. A genuine issue is arising here and we want to nip it in the bud. Tidy Towns committees perform amazing work. I am a former treasurer of my local Tidy Towns committee in Clarecastle, which has recently been awarded community of the year by Clare County Council for its work on various projects over the years. Pride in the village is at the heart of everything done to try to make the place more presentable. It is also a social activity. We will drive those people away, however, if we put all of these barriers and red tape in the way of such work.

Deputies Ó Cuív and Fitzmaurice are putting forward a very sensible suggestion in the context of gathering together a working group, for want of a better term, of all the participants and stakeholders here today. We raised this issue with the Minister, Deputy Ring, when he appeared before the committee some weeks ago. He was totally opposed to putting any barriers in the way of Tidy Towns committees. Mr. Garvey made reference to the fact that insurance is provided to Tidy Towns groups for their activities. He made particular reference to community projects, including Tidy Towns committees, care and maintenance of community centres, etc.

Deputy Fitzmaurice has put his finger on a grey area, however. It seems that in Galway there is a requirement for people to have done courses for a certain period and to have obtained particular certificates before they can erect signage and lighting. The people we are referring to are volunteers who are only cutting grass verges. County councils should be doing that work but it would probably never be done if we relied on them. All of the voluntary work being done will come to a halt if these types of burdens are placed on community groups. That is the perspective from which we are approaching this.

Perhaps Mr. Garvey will answer the points that Deputies Fitzmaurice and Ó Cuív and I have raised. I will bring in Mr. Kirwan and Mr. McHugh as well.