Mr. John McKeon:

I will deal with that as well as the Deputy's question about the long-term unemployed and whether people think there is a problem inherent in them. This Department and the staff I work with do not think that. I want to be absolutely clear about that. People who are long-term unemployed face greater challenges in breaking out of unemployment. The statistics are very clear. The longer one is unemployed, ones chances of securing employment in the next 12 months diminish. The percentage likelihood of employment if one is three years or more unemployed goes down to about 8% or less. Dealing with jobseekers is a huge challenge to my Department as they require intensive case officer support and that is what this is about. We do not believe we are doing it because there is something wrong with them.