Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

I do not have the cost of it. It is a unit in the Department headed by an assistant secretary. She and her staff do excellent work and are well regarded in the whole social policy area. She advises me, as Taoiseach, on social policy matters and helps in the preparation of Cabinet committee meetings in the areas of responsibility that come under the aegis of the unit.

She also provides, ensures and seeks to promote a whole of Government approach to all issues such as the national disability strategy or the question on how travellers' policy is dealt with. There has been much improvement on the disability issue and the bringing forward of offices led by Ministers of State to provide cross-departmental functions has been a success. I refer in particular to the Office of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs and the office pertaining to disabilities. Issues regarding the labour market or broad social inclusion are obvious areas for which any Department of the Taoiseach would be obliged to have a competence and capacity. It does its work well.

As for the live register, the year-on-year increase continues to fall. The year-on-year increase was 194,000, 189,000 and 146,000 in June, August and November 2009, respectively. While one would wish to see a continuation of this trend, it is taking place against a serious rise in unemployment rates, as has been evident in the past 12 months.

See this speech in context