Fiona O'Loughlin (Fianna Fail)
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The fact that the PPN comes through the local authority is important. Obviously, local authorities have a quota in terms of employment. I imagine what DESSA helps to do is to bridge the gap there as well, which is important. DESSA is probably familiar with our Oireachtas Work Learning, OWL, programme, and there are always some young people from Kildare involved because it is done in collaboration with KARE and WALK. I know one young man from it who would have been able to get a job in Dublin afterwards but he hated the travel up to Dublin. We have to understand that. He is finding it difficult to get a job. Sometimes we have to remind our local authorities of their responsibilities there.

I completely get DESSA's mission. I imagine, because it is from a Department, that DESSA cannot apply for and receive funding from Rethink Ireland because it takes really good pilot projects and gives funding to roll them out. DESSA is probably in a situation whereby even though it was an excellent pilot project, it was not continued, and the continuation of it and the roll-out needs to be done by the State. Am I correct in some of that?