Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)

In the first instance, the report on the pilot schemes I am awaiting will be submitted this month and then I expect to make a report to the Cabinet sub-committee on social inclusion on the issue.

Deputy Enright correctly identified that there is a range of bodies and agencies involved in the process. It is not something I can deliver on my own from my Department but we are determined to lead it. Deputy Enright correctly stated that is my wish to introduce the changes for budget 2009.

The pilot scheme indicates, according to early notional discussion I have had, that those who come voluntarily to the scheme find, perhaps to their surprise, that it is quite a positive experience. It is not about trying to take assistance people have through the social welfare system away from them, but trying to work positively with them to get them back to work. One of the issues with regard to lone parents is that many of them left school at an early age, resulting in education and literacy issues. It is all very well to say, let us get people back into the workplace, but we must ensure they have the tools to get back, the achievement of which will be a substantive issue.

I would like a positive message to go out from all the different organisations, and particularly from the Oireachtas, that this is a positive move. All the representative bodies of the lone parent groups are in favour of this and welcome and support it. We are trying to agree a forward strategy. My concern is that if we do not have some formalised way of getting people to interact with the system, not many will take part on a voluntary basis.

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