Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)

I do not know whether I am living on the same planet as the Government and the Minister of State. This Government is imbued with inertia, as illustrated by the response I received today, which can be best described as lethargic and limp. Is the Minister of State trying to tell me that the lists of people who have lost jobs in Waterford, Cappoquin, Tipperary, Tullamore, Cork and Edenderry are figments of my imagination? I am aware that projects are in the pipeline, including one announced by the Minister in Athlone, but these have been under development for the past two years. They did not turn up last night.

The Government is aware that unemployment levels have increased significantly. The HSE is reported to be about to shed 1,800 jobs. Company liquidations rose by 71% during the first half of the year. In August, 247,384 people were on the live register, which represents an increase of 73,178 on the figure for August 2007, 65,935 on the beginning of the year and 45,628 since the election of Deputy Cowen as Taoiseach.

Is the Minister of State aware that the county enterprise boards, which have been an important stimulant for the economy at the micro level, have not had been able to spend one shilling in capital funding since April? Is it not time to expand the remit of the boards to fill the gap between Enterprise Ireland's activities and what the boards are permitted to do? Let us have some innovation rather than sterility.

If the Government wants to take positive action, why can it not redirect the construction sector it loves so well by bringing forward a major schools building programme? This would give employment to those who lose their jobs in construction, provide much needed accommodation for the 40,000 children currently housed in prefabs and allow the State to offer softer tender prices and better value for money. Why not proceed with a national insulation scheme? The Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Deputy Ryan, believes such a scheme is already in place. Talk about living in an ivory tower; the moment he gets off his bicycle he forgets where he is going.

The country's county councils do not even have a shilling to pay disabled person grants for mobility and housing adaptation. Small construction companies could focus on this type of project, thereby creating employment. These grants also provided important comforts to elderly people by allowing them to stay in their own homes.

Why is the IDA trying to sell lands which it bought in 1973 at the current market value to local authorities which want to develop incubator units that would stimulate the economy?

The Minister of State should get on the road with new ideas and new innovation because that is what we need. The Government is too apathetic and complacent. Anybody can steer a ship on a calm sea but the mark of greatness is steering it through rough waters. The Government has failed that test miserably.

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