Pat Carey (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)

The sector blew the whistle on problems with this on 20 September. I met with a representative group which has worked well. I will not be recommending the extension of any timetable. It is necessary to bring closure to this problem that I inherited and that we can embark on the new scheme on 1 January 2011. It is the people on the ground who are recipients of the services who we must consider most of all. I recognise the concerns of those who may feel their jobs are under threat. They are not. The people key to this are the recipients of the services and the volunteers driving it.

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