Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)

I agree it is not desirable for young people coming out of school to look immediately to the welfare system because that is detrimental to their energy and enthusiasm for work. Of the 7,500 under 20 years of age on the welfare system, 3,800 had been referred to FÁS as of 19 October last. The relationship between the Department and FÁS is crucial to moving people onto schemes as quickly as possible and getting them into work.

There are extenuating circumstances in some cases. The situation is not as black and white as it might appear, or as we might like it to be, because some kids come from families which live on social welfare. We need to interact with those kids immediately to show them there is an alternative, and that a better quality of life is available if they work and have a sense of self-worth and feel they contribute to society.

We are trying to co-ordinate the Departments and their agencies better than we did in the past.

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