Michael Conaghan (Dublin South Central, Labour) | Oireachtas source

In the context of the new JobsPlus initiative, will existing incentive schemes such as the PRSI exemption and the Revenue tax assist scheme come to an end? How successful were such schemes and what were their failings and deficiencies? How many people were employed through those initiatives?

Another question relates to the proposed health innovation hub. When the Minister for Health, Deputy Reilly, announced the new children’s hospital, he referred to the establishment of a medical quarter in Dublin’s south-west inner city. I note that St. James’s Hospital is keen on the idea of a health innovation hub. Could the schemes outlined be geographically defined and what is the prospect of the south-west inner city taking on such a challenge, in particular St. James’s Hospital?

I am concerned that the plans outlined suggest unemployment is geographically evenly spread, whereas urban areas have mass unemployment where enormous personal, family and community damage is being done by the sheer level of unemployment. There does not appear to be a consciousness of the need to intervene in a radical way to give such communities more basis for hope and the individuals who are affected some basis for thinking that their turn will come again. I would like to see the Government do more in that regard.