The rural social scheme is a very important part of rural communities all along the western seaboard and indeed, in many counties, including Cavan and Monaghan. To get on the scheme, applicants have to qualify for farm assist payments. Those on the scheme get a top-up payment for doing very valuable work in their communities. The payment is perhaps €20 or something very small. It is of great value to the communities. A six-year cap has been in place since 2017, so individuals can only be part of the scheme for six years. I ask that when people reach 60 years of age, or 61 or 62, they be allowed to finish out their time on the scheme until they reach pensionable age

Throughout the country they work on graveyards, green areas and approaches to villages.

Thank you, Deputy, time is up.

They help tidy towns committees in areas such as-----

Time is up Deputy, I am afraid.

-----Glenflesk, Gneeveguilla, Scartaglen, Kenmare and Cahersiveen. They do very valuable work and I ask the Taoiseach to lift the cap.

The Ceann Comhairle is being too strict. I was really looking forward to a lyrical list of those beautiful Kerry names dripping off the tongue. I agree with the Deputy. I will look at it. It is a very fair point. Deputy Ó Cuív was instrumental in introducing the rural social scheme. It is a valuable scheme. It does a lot of valuable work throughout the country. It is very useful and developmental for the people involved. I will speak to the relevant Ministers to see whether we can look at the specific issue the Deputy has raised with regard to the age cap. I did that previously when I was at the Department with responsibility for enterprise with regard to community employment schemes. I am sympathetic to what the Deputy has asked, but I have to go through the details.