Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

That was one of the reasons we set up the Local Link service with the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport last year. It enables people to at least come in and pick up their pension on a Friday. It allows them come into their town to shop. It is a very serious problem that affects society when people are busy and do not have the time to help others. I will speak to representatives of the organisations that we fund. To be fair, groups like the GAA and soccer and rugby organisations, as well as other sporting bodies, can be relevant here. The GAA is probably the most popular local organisation, as there are community, town and village teams. Maybe I should sit down with the GAA and soccer organisations to see what we can do to try to support people who are lonely, isolated and feeling vulnerable. I put much money and effort into the seniors alert scheme last year because I wanted people to at least feel safe in their own homes.

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