Pat Carey (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)

The issue of commuting poses challenges for a number of people. In many ways, this was dealt with by newer communities in expanding towns in Leinster. One of the ways my Department will engage with these towns is through the young people's facilities and services fund and by providing additional facilities for communities, ensuring more people work with clubs and organisations.

We should not underestimate the resource of people who take early retirement. Recently, I was in Waterford and saw a large number of people who took early retirement from a variety of occupations, including the Garda Síochána. They have begun to drive many voluntary initiatives and this will develop. We commend that practice. The databases of county volunteering committees, organisations such as Volunteering Ireland and Young Social Innovators will be the enablers in local communities.

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