Margaret Conlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)

-----that if one is on jobseeker's allowance and has refused an offer of education or training then one's benefit is reduced to €150. This measure was introduced in respect of 18 and 19 year olds and has been most effective.

I commend the Minister on the measures she introduced to tackle welfare fraud. In the past year, I have noticed increased activity by the Garda Síochána, the Customs and Excise personnel and officials from the Department of Social and Family Affairs. They have mounted checkpoints to crack down on welfare fraud and this is welcome. Anyone who engages in welfare fraud is stealing and taking money from the pockets of taxpayers. It is wrong and it must be stopped. I welcome the rollout of the public service card, which will go a long way to assist in the elimination of fraud. I also welcome the provision whereby social welfare officers may stop a vehicle and check people if they are suspicious of welfare fraud. They can also gain information from financial institutions if people are suspected of engaging in welfare fraud. We must make every effort to tackle this. It is incumbent on us all to ensure that this is stamped out. I also welcome the new scheme which encourages employers to take on unemployed people who have been signing on for six months or more. They will be exempt from PRSI for the first year of employment which saves employers 8% to 10% of the cost of each new job created. This is welcome because many employers are in difficulty.

I also welcome the fact that the funding for the family resource centres has been protected. I have been very involved with the resource centres in Cavan-Monaghan which are anxious to have their funding protected. They provide a very valuable service to the most vulnerable in our communities. Any savings will be secured through re-structuring the regional support agencies which is welcome.

Recessions are cyclical events. This one too will pass. By making the right choices, not the populist ones, to correct our public finances we hasten the day when more people will return to work and our economy will grow again. None of us takes pleasure in making these difficult decisions but they are necessary for the sustainability of our welfare system and our country.

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