Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)

As a former teacher, the Leas-Cheann Comhairle should understand.

In any event, I thank the Minister for his detailed reply. It is time that we shocked ourselves out of our absolute complacency. We have been on auto pilot. We have been so used to the good times that we have virtually no idea how to deal with the difficult times. I do not intend to talk down the economy because the fundamentals are sound. However, there are problems that may well create difficulties for us.

Recently the Central Statistics Office published live register figures indicating that we currently have 5% unemployment. However, the situation in individual towns is much worse. Survey data on 28 towns with a population of more than 10,000 shows that 18 of them had more than 10% of their populations on the live register. For example, 21.52% of the population of Newbridge is on the live register. Is that not a cause for concern? Does the Minister agree something must be done to tackle that issue? Will he confirm that the live register figures on Friday will indicate more than 200,000 unemployed?

Does he agree that action is required if the rapid climb in the numbers on the live register is to be halted and reversed? The first action required is a change of attitude on the part of the Government to recognise the seriousness of the position. Every time job losses are announced, the Government appears to be caught unawares. Are we chasing the horse after it has got out of the shed with no one to bolt door? Where stands the early warning unit in the Department, which is responsible for identifying plants at risk and intervening to ensure retention of the maximum number of jobs? If it is not in operation, will he take steps to reactive the unit?

The Minister referred to the upskilling of 500,000 people over the next number of years. Will he bring forward an accelerated programme of training opportunities to ensure people who lose their jobs can take up alternative employment? Apart from the construction slowdown, is it not the creeping closure of long-term local employers engaged in the manufacturing sector that is the nub of this issue? It is important, therefore, people in this sector are afforded the opportunity to retrain without much ado or fuss.

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