Mr. Joe Saunders:

Ms Earley covered it. I echo Deputy Martin Kenny's concern that many people may fall into a chasm between unemployment and a more sustainable living income. We share the view that in the transfer between a scheme and something else, there should be a mid way point that provides an incentive to people to progress. That will form part of our discussions with the Department. The committee's predecessor in its report on building viable rural communities had some ideas in that regard that we share.

The other aspect the Deputy mentioned was that those aged 55 years plus who are not physically up to the challenge of getting back on a building site or who will not do so again have a great deal to offer and there is probably a third way somewhere between employment and self-employment. Some of the activation measures, in their current iteration, may not be the most suitable but those people are anxious to give back to their own communities and to contribute in their own way.

A national employment service, although under the remit of another Department, should be community-based and not-for-profit, and it should link strongly to the SICAP programme meaning that there would need to be a level of cross-departmental co-operation that allows for a community aspect to alternatives to welfare.