Ms Bríd O'Brien:

Wexford Local Development was one of the original partnerships. It is a part of the country where attempts to obtain - and then maintain and develop - sustainable employment has represented an ongoing challenge. Developments such as Brexit and the election of Trump in the USA will throw up unforeseen issues in terms of what will happen to foreign direct investment here and in other countries. All these factors add layers of complication.

It is important that the regional action plans for jobs and the targets in the programme for Government are delivered and that we examine ways to develop sustainable indigenous enterprises and self-employment options for people. We get feedback from unemployed people, including those who are older, and from others within communities. Sometimes they are in circumstances whereby they believe that unless they generate their own job, they will not get one. It is a question of trying to ensure that people going down that route get the necessary supports to be able to deliver on it.