Mary O'Rourke (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)

We all agree that unemployment brings misery, sadness and unhappiness to so many families. We know that because we realise that for a long period doing constituency clinic work we were spoiled. People were not concerned about getting a job, but rather how they would progress to the next job opportunity, as they attempted to up-skill. It is a great sadness for such people, their families and children. I can only imagine how people must feel at this time of the year as we draw towards the Christmas if they are unemployed. For that sake alone, I strongly hope that employment will pick up.

There has been much talk about what the Government has not done, but I believe it has done a good deal about unemployment. I heard Deputy Broughan, when I was in my office, talk about the fact that there were so many apprentices whose courses were not completed. FÁS has taken specific measures to deal with redundant apprentices. I have been reading about that and also the Léargas scheme, where a very strong effort is being made to place redundant apprentices in positions where they can continue their training and have job opportunities. Armed with their training and skills certification, they can literally travel the world and get a job, although obviously one would wish they might get a job at home.

I am also very keen on the whole Skillnets programme and I have officiated at the launch of such initiatives around the country. They are wonderful. A very good one is under way at the moment, catering for management and future leader levels. The participants shape the course to suit themselves. They give feedback as regards what they want in the course and how they are getting on and it is a very worthwhile endeavour.

Regarding FÁS, the Tánaiste was right, as was the Minister of State, Deputy Kelleher, when they said that whatever irregularities there were must be attended to and erased. However, some people are reluctant to say a good word about FÁS. I have nothing but the height of praise for it. I worked for two and a half years with Deputy Ruairí Quinn, a great man to have as a boss. He and I worked closely together on that whole FÁS programme. At that time FÁS relinquished the tag of social employment and started the community employment projects. There is not a village in this land that has not been changed and touched by FÁS. It has changed the face of Ireland. People have been trained on it, done such worthwhile community work and gone on to job opportunities. It is actually on-the-job training, which is brilliant, and it has developed so many other skills within the repertoire of what it can offer people. I hope that whatever small cloud hangs over FÁS will not linger and that, unfettered, it will be able to press on with whatever programme of work it has ahead.

I put on record my admiration for an agency that has much to do in this small country — to provide employment chances, advanced and apprentice training, one step up and community employment programmes, etc. The range of courses and facilities on offer is significant and I hope that under the tutelage of the Tánaiste and the Minister of State, Deputy Kelleher, whatever cloud hangs over the agency will soon be lifted.

I would also like to say a good word about the Minister of State, who is here. I have found him approachable and adaptable and, as a Cork woman, the Acting Chairman, Deputy Kathleen Lynch, will know this, too, of course. He is interesting to listen to and keen to meet people, learn what he can from them and help them to go forward in whatever scheme they want to join. I wish I had more time to speak. I hope the measures being put in place for the unemployed will be effective.

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