Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Thursday, 3 June 2021

Committee on Budgetary Oversight

Budget Priorities Exiting Covid-19 Pandemic: Discussion

Photo of Aindrias MoynihanAindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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Gabhaim buíochas leis an Leas-Chathaoirleach as an gcur i láthair agus as an eolas. There are one or two points I wish to raise. The pandemic hit different people in different ways and some people were more sheltered from it. We have seen, for example, the way savings accumulated for some people while others fell behind because of it and suffered serious loss of income. There was brief reference in Dr. Kinsella's presentation to those funds now being unleashed back into the economy. Does he have a view of how that might be steered, where it will be spent or where it would best benefit us for it to be spent?

Second, the point was made that there is no expectation of a sharp drop-off in unemployment and youth unemployment in particular. That is a real concern for a group of people who have been hit on the double over the years, and nearly on the treble. I acknowledge the economic recovery plan was only published earlier in the week but what is Dr. Kinsella's view on the impact of that on youth employment in particular, where there are JobsPlus apprenticeships, placement schemes and so on? What impact would he see those initiatives having on youth unemployment or is it something he sees as being a stubborn problem despite those efforts? If that is the case where else would something need to be done? I ask because there seems to be a wide range of initiatives from placement schemes to the likes of the JobsPlus scheme, apprenticeships, SOLAS programmes and so on.