Mark Wall (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I also welcome our guests today. I apologise for coming to the meeting late. I missed some of the opening statements and the witnesses may have already answered some of my questions. I apologise for that but thank all of the witnesses for being with us today. It is very important. There is an area I wanted to concentrate on. I am aware of and dealing with a number of people who have done the leaving certificate, who are now aged 18 and 19 and who do not know where to go next. That was touched on briefly but what can the witnesses offer those people? I am specifically thinking about a number of families with whom I am dealing at the moment who have reached out to employers and colleges but who are not getting the feedback they had hoped for. That may have something to do with the wage subsidy support scheme. Mr. Brabazon has mentioned twice already that smaller employers in rural areas in particular are afraid to engage with that scheme. Perhaps the committee can do or needs to do a lot of work on that. Perhaps he will comment on that advice for parents and on what they need to do.

Another issue that has been brought up with me since I became a member of this committee is the issue of late diagnosis, which was mentioned in the opening statements. People go into a job and are working away but find it very difficult to hold onto the job. They may be in the middle of seeking a diagnosis or perhaps they or their families do not want a diagnosis. There are a number of contributory factors. How can employers and unions work with those people to encourage them and to make sure they form part of that employment because, as has been said, many of them bring special skills with them? That is something I find as well. They are loath to get the diagnosis because of the consequences it may have for their employment. Perhaps the witnesses will comment on those points.