Ruairi Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I appreciate that. I accept the added difficulties with the pilots the Department was looking to put in place in the context of the wider issue we have that an insufficient number of people are working in this sector. I know that a lot of things are being considered. We have to look at pay scales and any incentivisation we can provide. We know of the difficulties of people, some of whom were contracted staff, who would state that they were not going to get paid expenses for travel. Every obstacle possible was being put in their way. I think the Minister of State told me that the task force has met, or at least had met when we spoke last, three times and that it is examining every avenue to deal with this problem. Could she go into a little detail in that regard? We all know that the big issue is weekend support. Could she provide a general timeline for getting those pilots up and running? Where is the pilot that is under way operating? Where are the other three? Will the Minister of State provide a timeline, with all the caveats necessary?

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