Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

In Pathways to Work we set out a number of strategies to ensure people who find themselves out of work, particularly the long-term unemployed, do not become permanently disenfranchised in our society. This is what Sinn Féin wants. The aim is to ensure Ireland's greatest resource, its people, will no longer remain on the live register for lengthy periods without an appropriate offer of assistance from the State in a voluntary way. In return, individuals will be made aware of the responsibility to commit to a job search and other employment, education or training activities. This is it, and there is no other hidden agenda which the Deputies opposite would have one believe exists. If the growth in long-term unemployment is to be halted, and the number of people unemployed for more than 12 months reduced, trends must be reversed. Put simply, no one who loses his or her job should be allowed to drift with no support into long-term unemployment.

Activation policies should seek to increase the employability of jobseekers and encourage them to be more active in their efforts to find work. In Ireland, we have traditionally adopted a passive approach to supporting jobseekers compared to other OECD countries, so internationally Sinn Féin is out of step. One of the consequences of this passive approach was the development of a significant phenomenon of long-term unemployment, even in the midst of an economic boom, and the deskilling of many people in the labour market. It is even more urgent we address these challenges in the current economic climate.

The Government will place 3,000 people on the scheme this year through local authorities. They will do work which must be done in every community in the country. The Deputies opposite will make representations to ensure they get their constituents on these schemes. I can see Deputy Ferris already making representations to Kerry County Council. The people who will be on the schemes will be the better for it as will the people in the community. Its environmental enhancement will be to the benefit of many communities. The Government will do whatever it can to implement measures which will provide a stepping stone to full-time employment.

We will do so without the support of Sinn Féin, if necessary.

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