Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I am aware much work has been done. We can look at the rural social scheme and the eligibility for Tús being extended to persons in receipt of disability payments. There is the new flexibility to allow CE schemes to recruit eligible candidates directly to fill 30% of places. However, we must be practical. The reason communities cannot get people on CE schemes is because CE does not pay them, first of all. If you have to travel 15 or 20 miles to where that scheme is you are losing money, though I do not even know that it is about losing money. I am not saying the scheme is not a great one, because it is. However, why are people not participating in it? Why are they not getting more money? The reason is it just does not work out for them. They are doing this extra work that they love. I compliment everyone involved in the scheme. I know so many in my own community who do so much work.

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