Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)

I accept the overall situation with regard to employment creation in the economy is positive, but that generalisation does not include people, of whom there are many, as the Minister's figures suggest there were 440,000 at the last count, who only have second level educational achievement within a labour force of just over 2 million. I do not dispute the points made by the Minister. They are the facts of life and we have done well out of riding them, as it were, in terms of job creation.

What tracking mechanisms are available to the Department and FÁS when redundancies occur due to relocation? For the individuals directly concerned and with the support services of FÁS, what is the expectancy for someone with limited skills who is made redundant in a plant that has closed due to relocation? How long does FÁS stay involved with an individual and at what point is he or she cut loose in terms of finding another job? The level of satisfaction of ex-employees depends on their sense of security in getting back into the labour market at a salary level at least similar to what they had enjoyed previously, even though their formal educational skills and experience may not give them that expectation. I am not sure whether that question makes sense to the Minister but I think he may know what I am trying to say.

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