Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)

I wish to put two ideas to the House. In 2007 there were approximately 180,000 people unemployed and now the number is more than 430,000 yet the number of PLC courses and places has risen by only 8,000. In 2007, a total of 30,000 PLC courses were available in colleges of further education and now it is a total of 38,000 but with no increase for next year. If we are serious about retraining opportunities for people who are laid off and unemployed, one of the most cost-effective means of delivering progression courses is through further education. I ask the Government to lift the cap on PLC courses over the next number of months so that we can radically increase the number of people who can obtain FETAC levels six, seven and eight courses within these colleges.

I ask the Government to consider my second idea. The Fine Gael Party has proposed an internship programme dedicated to upskilling and providing opportunities for young graduates. There are 2,500 unemployed teachers in the country who are currently on the dole. They cannot get a look in when it comes to substitution teaching work in schools because many retired teachers are taking this substitution work and this is a scandal in this day and age with so many people unemployed. If a person with a bachelor of education degree spends two years out of education, he or she will be required to spend another three or four years in order to upskill. We have gaps all over our primary and secondary school system. There should be a system to ensure that these young, bright, talented graduates in education are put into the school system. The Fine Gael proposal as set out in the substantive motion would ensure that graduates are given opportunities to get into professional training. This can be done. No new opportunities have been provided for young people who graduated from St. Pat's or UCD or other colleges in the past year. They want to teach and are prepared to teach at very small rates of pay as a means of getting experience. These are the same people who should be given an opportunity to get temporary whole-time places and permanent places when the economy turns, as inevitably it will. These are ideas that could work and which would make a significant difference when it comes to giving new opportunities to people currently out of work.

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