Mr. Michael Bowe:

There is a danger of being locked into figures and referrals. While the number of referrals has declined, we must remember who it is we serve, which is those at the greatest distance from employment. They are at the centre of everything we are involved in and I genuinely believe the local development companies, with all their bits and pieces, are uniquely prepared to deal with that complex set of problems. While employment is the end result in the ideal scenario, the journey into the world of traditional employment can take months or years and sometimes it never ends. For this reason, it is better not to get locked into the issue of figures.

The decline in the number of referrals means that theoretically staff have been freed up to spend more time with those who most need assistance, which is what we are there to provide. We take the most difficult cases and in that regard, I would like to correct a certain comment that was made. We do not have an issue with the quality of candidates and I do not like the use of that term. We were established to respond to unemployed people who walk through our doors, regardless of their circumstances or the issues involved. We are uniquely structured in terms of the level and quality of staff and systems we have in place and the cross programmes we have to try to make this match work in order that a better outcome can be achieved for the individual and his or her family as a result.

Perhaps it should be broadened so that it is not merely about the contract going to one company or another. I certainly believe we are well disposed to and capable of responding to those sorts of issues. We are uniquely qualified to do so.