Dr. Peter Rigney:

It was changed to the effect that employers would still pay 12.7% but the 0.7% would go into a national training fund which would pick up the slack for the end of ESF. I am suggesting that if resourcing is the problem - the Department of Finance does not like this, and will regard it as the end of civilisation it if it is attempted again - there is no reason a similar sliver of employee PRSI could not be taken and put into the national training fund. The Department of Social Protection might or might not like that. I say "might or might not" because a proper education and training system is one of the best guarantees against long-term unemployment. I think I have covered all the questions addressed to me.