Micheál Carrigy (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

There are no other speakers. I notice in the opening statement that the Department has put sensory rooms in some of its buildings throughout the country. The project we have been working on with the Houses of the Oireachtas involves the development of an autism-friendly complex. It is important that all Government buildings throughout the country are such and that there are staff in every building who are trained in that area.

The Department must be complimented on the fact that work has been done. I assume that is not the case in all Department buildings throughout the country. It is important to pass that on. I live in Ballinalee and the Department of Social Protection is just down the road from me. Therefore I know many of the staff who work in the various sections that deal with many of the claims. It is important to compliment the good work they do. The process was kept going all through Covid-19 which was difficult. Claims were being assessed all through that. It is important to put that on record in the context of the work that was done by all the staff in the offices on the Ballinalee Road.

Deputy Ó Cathasaigh has really drilled into the issue with regard to the numbers and the whole issue of people being unemployed or underemployed. Reference has been made to the 85% unemployment rate. We need to reflect on the success of the EmployAbility service, given that the numbers employed are low. As has been said, the number of companies on the WSS is low. There is an problem there. The issue may be a lack of information to employers but it needs to be tackled if we are to address that 85% figure.

We discussed an issue with regard to some of the colleges. Ms Conroy might talk about policy. She was getting off free there for a while. The committee has heard from Trinity College Dublin, which has developed a programme to link in with companies to provide employment. Some of the other colleges such as the Technological University of the Shannon, TUS, in my own area, offer some sort of a support programme to help students to transition into employment. Trinity College Dublin has created an ambassador role. It works with 40 companies that are prepared to work with the college. When students graduate into employment, they are then supported in that employment. This should be done throughout the whole country in all colleges. Supporting a programme like that would help to improve the figures. It involves working with companies that are aware of the schemes that are in place. Going straight from college into a job and being supported in that job is positive. It takes staffing to support such a project throughout the country. Is this something the Department is aware of? Is it a project the Department could look at and work on in order to decrease that figure of 85%?