James Bannon (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)

Our young people have a great sense of pride in themselves, their country, their communities and parishes. Thousands of them entered their studies full of hope. They now have no prospect of a job and only €100 per week, less than a quarter of what a Fianna Fáil Minister would give as a tip in a restaurant.

In my constituency, 3,202 people under 25 are out of work. In Longford alone there are 1,078, while in Westmeath there are 2,124 people under 25 out of work. This budget will have a devastating effect on those young people who will be forced to emigrate because of what happened here on Wednesday. It will have a terrible effect on rural communities and parishes.

Earlier, I asked if the Minister had any plans to reinstate and enhance the community employment scheme, providing a greater role for VECs in training. VECs are doing a good job but there are proposals from Government to amalgamate them. That would not be necessary if they were given more powers.

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