Jim Daly (Cork South West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I appreciate that. I will move on, but I requested this meeting. I have a particular interest in this and have done much work on the scheme, so I beg the Chairman's indulgence based on that.

What steps have been taken to advise employers of the scheme? What is the Department doing to let the unemployed know about it? I think it is writing randomly to the unemployed but I would prefer to see a more co-ordinated approach, if it is possible.

Has there been any reaction from employers to date and from the 1,100 who are eligible or the 400 people who have taken it up? I know the delegation gave the figure for the revenue assist scheme, but could I have the number of employers who availed of it last year? I know from a parliamentary question I tabled in a previous year that it was miserly. What was it for last year?