Áine Collins (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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I thank Ms O'Donoghue and her team for coming before the committee. I wish to focus on activation measures, fraud and domiciliary care.

I understand that there is only 3% activation in respect of the Gateway scheme. I am not sure if an update is available in the context of what is currently happening with the scheme. JobBridge has attracted mixed reviews. Is Ms O'Donoghue in a position to indicate the number of jobs that have been created for people who went on this scheme? What percentage of such individuals return to the live register? There is a specific issue with Tús in that when one accepts a placement on it, one becomes an employee. As a result, one is obliged to pay employees' PRSI. There are people who are married with children and who are in receipt of larger social welfare payments of €400 plus per week. If they go on Tús schemes - many of them have the urge to do so when asked - they receive an additional €20 per week but they actually come out with less money because they are obliged to pay the universal social charge, USC, and PRSI. That is unfair and it would not happen if they were on community employment, CE, schemes. Will Ms O'Donoghue comment on those points?