Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

My understanding is that the Peace Corps formula was devised by President Kennedy and Sargent Shriver in the United States in the early 1960s. It is the most notable example of a voluntary civilian corps of which I am aware. Am I correct in thinking that the US Peace Corps operates on the basis of giving placements to students in particular, the equivalent of our second-level students, rather than to those who have finished third level or college education, giving them placements to work on local projects in countries where the United States wishes to give out certain messages or assist particular programmes? Does the Minister of State hope to develop a programme on the basis of the US model? Will the people he hopes to place on the programme get specific training beyond their general knowledge or competence? He mentioned retired public servants, giving the example of their particular competence, as well as those retired from the private sector. Is his thinking more inclined to make placements available for retired personnel rather than for people who may be midway through or approaching the conclusion of their formal education?

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