Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)

The recent announcements should be viewed as a package of measures. The Deputy asked about the 2,000 work and graduate placement places. It is a new initiative and there is nothing to say that, once it is up and running and people have registered with it, we should not be able to extend it. An initial number of 2,000 places is worth the effort. They will last for six months. Some 1,000 will go to graduates and 1,000 will go to other workers, 250 of which will be reserved for people under the age of 25 years. Since it is being done through FÁS and both jobseekers and participating employers can register, a number of issues must be teased out to make sure that there is no job displacement, that is, killing off existing positions. I would welcome the programme's expansion.

While I do not want to repeat myself, additional places have been made available in the further education sector. The Deputy did not mention the recent announcement on the expressions of interest being sought from the third level sector in a part-time course that will make 2,500 places available. They all add up.

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