Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Deputy is correct. It is why some of the schemes in my Department such as the seniors alert scheme have worked very well. In 2018 we spent €6.984 million in supporting 19,000 new participants. There is a new initiative which I will introduce and for which I would like to receive the Deputy's support and that of everybody else in the House.

It is the national community weekend event we intend to run in May. We have announced some details, but we will have a national launch shortly. We will try to get communities to host events to allow people to get to know their neighbours to reduce isolation which is one of the issues at which we are looking. There are many people who would be prepared to visit on a voluntary basis neighbours, friends and others who need visitors. The scheme commenced in September and will shortly be the subject of a national launch during the weekend event in May. I hope it will encourage people to get to know their neighbours.

I note our other schemes. We have provided for investment of €190 million under SICAP between 2018 and 2022. To date, over 25,000 individuals have received assistance. The men's shed movement is working in that regard also. Another scheme people do not consider in the context of rural isolation is the local improvement scheme, under which funding is available to help people to get into and out of their homes.

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