Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

An interesting comment that I read while doing a bit of research on this matter was made in the INOU's pre-budget submission, namely, the potential supply of labour statistics. I had not noticed something like this before, although it has probably been in other material that has appeared on my desk. The figure is nearly double that of the live register. The potential supply of labour statistics seem to capture the type of people about whom I am talking. They might also capture others. I understand the demands on the Department, but when spare capacity emerges in the labour activation measures that were put in place in recent years, instead of reducing that capacity, could we consider whether they might be used to capture people who are underemployed, unemployed or dependent adults.

I welcome the clarification about people being able to access education schemes. I know of a number of those. While some people can work, what others want is access to a scheme because they are seeking qualifications, not to be sent directly into the workplace. A number of schemes are limited in terms of hours, so it is good that this matter is being examined.

The National Women's Council of Ireland, which I had hoped would attend this meeting, stated in its pre-budget submission that there was a need to calculate unemployment or availability for work on the basis of hours and not days. I also made this point. Some people are underemployed and, as such, do not qualify for payments. It is not because of their incomes, but because their employments are spread over a number of days.

Although this suggestion would require a major change in the calculations, it was only a few years ago that another major change was made, namely, that relating to the number of days worked to allow someone to qualify. The problem is that we did not move from days worked or not worked to hours worked. This might be discussed at a later date.

While signing on for credits is fine, how many people in the group to which I referred cannot even do that and, as such, have no access? I referred on a number of people on the presumption that they could sign on for credits but I was not 100% sure. God knows how long I have been dealing with people but if even I cannot determine whether someone who appears before me will qualify for a credit, the normal Joe or Josephine will find it difficult. I welcome the departmental officials' increased awareness of the need to split the claim. If people understood that no income would be lost, the Department would see more people. Simple clarification of this and a range of issues would help everyone.