Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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I certainly have serious concerns. I am not sure how we can deal with them at the Committee of Public Accounts. We all have our opinions. I happen to agree with my two colleagues. How do we achieve value for money? The scheme does not result in value for money. Two weeks ago, I met representatives of the Local Employment Service Network in Galway. There are serious problems on the ground in respect of this organisation. The quality of the services offered is not measured. I refer to the quality of the services offered on so many levels that have nothing to do with filling out a CV. The skills are empowering people - people who will perhaps never hold down a full-time job but who do other things as a result of the network on the ground helping them. They must be included in the equation when valuing.

Consider the gobbledegook language. There is a conclusion referring to some disimprovement in the number of clients completely agreeing. There is agreeing and completely agreeing. That is on page 23. More than three out of five clients agree that training courses were of good quality. Therefore, two out of five do not. Three out of four, or more than three quarters, agree. The language is being used in a way to justify a scheme that is not indicating value for money. It is a misuse of language.

Those are my comments. I am obviously not here to make personal comments but I would not be reassured that value for money is being achieved. Ultimately, that is what we are about. If we are to consider value for money, all the other criteria have to be taken into account in respect of what the organisations on the ground that are not for profit are imparting to people on the ground, thereby saving the State a fortune. That is value for money. I refer to where skills are imparted to help people live an independent life. Those concerned might not hold down a job but they can do many other good things. Perhaps with the help of the Comptroller and Auditor General in due course and the Chairman, we might examine how value for money is measured and what should go into the pot. What the Local Employment Service Network is doing is not put into the pot to measure.