Fidelma Healy Eames (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the panel. I concur with Deputy Jim Daly's point on the lack of ambition in the Gateway programme. Let me illustrate the point. Around ten days ago, an employer in the engineering manufacturing business, an exporting company - which we know is our big hope as it can improve our GDP - told me he cannot get people to work for him on 1.5 times the minimum wage, which is over €12 an hour. I do not know how one can motivate people to work for an extra €20 in addition to their social welfare if employers are failing to engage them on €12 plus per hour because they are afraid of losing benefits. I am talking to the Department of Social Protection. There is work to be done and I plan to raise this issue with the Minister, Deputy Burton. First, employers do not know that the applicant can keep some of his or her benefits even after he or she takes up work. I know I am crossing over, but I am making this point because this information must filter through. A great deal more must be done with employers to empower and enable them to respond to the applicant who says the employer is not offering enough money.

About one in four children live in jobless households. That is probably one of the major indictments of our system right now. We have a thousand educated young people leaving our shores.