Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)

I thank the Ceann Comhairle and the Minister of State for agreeing to allow the question. Skillnets does an excellent job. It is one of the examples of money that is well spent. It provides excellent training, it is largely employer-led and it gives the people who work in those industries the skills they need to improve the competitiveness of the industry and to go on to promotion and better jobs. I would not like to see it cut, and if it is cut, the Minister of State can be sure it is one cut Fine Gael will definitely reverse in Government.

When will the Minister of State tell us about cuts? There are 100 Skillnets companies across the country, and they have been told their budgets will be cut by 26% this year. We are already half way through the year, and the companies must make commitments. Will we know by next Tuesday whether the Government is going to cut Skillnets? I also understand that the Minister of State is analysing the idea of including some unemployed people in the Skillnets programme. Does he not think that makes much sense? In the past, we have isolated unemployed people and put them on their own with other unemployed people doing separate training? Does he not think it makes good sense to take newly unemployed people and involve them in skills programmes with people who are in work and in business?

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