Mr. John Callinan:

Senator Healy Eames asked about the targets in the Action Plan for Jobs, the structural change and how we are doing. This is something we grapple with. The first pass at measuring delivery of the action plan is whether a measure has been done. We have typically hit an achievement rate of more than 90%, but that is only a step. We are trying to put more focus on measuring the consequences, impact and outcomes of the measures and the level of job creation achieved, while bearing in mind my comment earlier that none of these measures produce instant success. It takes time but it is an increasing topic in terms of our work and monitoring activity.

The Senator's comment on the Momentum scheme comes up regularly. It is a dilemma for us. There is no doubt long-term unemployment is a major issue for us so there is pressure to do more for the long-term unemployed, to target more places for them and to have schemes designed for them. Then we hit the problem to which Senator Healy Eames referred, whereby someone who is unemployed asks whether we are telling them they must wait longer. In terms of the resources available, there is no instant fix to the problem but I take the point and the suggestion made that we should look at unallocated places. Perhaps Mr. Corcoran, my colleague from the Department of Social Protection, has something to say on that.