Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)

In reply to the previous question the Minister said the best way out of poverty was to encourage people to get into employment. Nobody disagrees with that. The Minister also asked us to be positive about these proposals. We will be positive if the Minister plays his part in ensuring these things happen. Unfortunately, the record shows the Department and FÁS have not been very active in assisting people to move off welfare into training or employment.

The numbers being referred to FÁS have been increasing steadily over the past seven years. However, the number of people being placed in employment each year has remained static, at approximately 6,500 or 7,000. Previously approximately 40% of people were being placed in employment. In 2006 the figure was 26% and the Minister has just told us that last year it was a mere 14%. How can the Minister defend that disappointing figure when only 14% of people referred to FÁS for a job or training place succeeded in being placed? This is a serious problem.

I raised this problem yesterday and want to return to it. The level of work being done by FÁS in terms of assisting lone parents, school leavers or middle aged people who find themselves redundant into training and employment is tokenistic. A figure of 14% is completely inadequate. Can the Minister blame the various groups working in this area if they are sceptical of his proposals in view of the fact that he does not seem prepared to put funding into providing the services necessary to support people? Does the Minister accept that FÁS needs to take drastic action?

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