Mr. Patrick Mulley:

Unemployed RDF people could be engaged on the Department of Social Protection's Tús and JobBridge programmes, although many people are averse to it, given that the Defence Forces are already using JobBridge programmes in other areas. A JobBridge internship programme could be very beneficial to a person who would be a productive member of the unit to which he or she was attached and would gain military skills under the umbrella of the RDF. It would be a win-win situation. It would be a stepping stone for the individual towards gaining employment. One gains many skills in the military, other than marching, and they all add up on a CV. From a community perspective, it would be ideal if people knew that if they joined the RDF they might be eligible to participate in such a programme, if the unemployment rate keeps going the way it is. It would be multi-beneficial and should be able to work within the Defence Forces. While it would not bring everybody off the dole, people in the RDF who are unemployed should be afforded the opportunity. We raised it with the Department before we came here last time.