Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)

The increases on the live register in some districts throughout the country are truly astonishing. Portlaoise has had a 70% increase in people signing on, Monaghan and Kells have had increases of 51%, Trim and Portarlington have had increases of 55%, Navan has had an increase of 41%, Ballybofey has had an increase of 48% and Carlow has had an increase of 44%. Some of these places are in the constituencies of Fianna Fáil Ministers. These are astonishing figures in this downturn and the Cowen recession we are possibly entering.

Does the Minister have any intention of undertaking strong locally targeted initiatives with FÁS in areas such as Portlaoise, Portarlington and the other areas I listed where we seem to have had a massive collapse in employment? This is an urgent matter. It is necessary for the Minister, with the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Deputy Coughlan, and the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Deputy Ó Cuív, to come up with answers.

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