Deirdre Clune (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)

Cork City Council has provided them for a number of years. Private operators are taking business from local authorities with the result that customers have to bear the cost of the waivers. Waste collection is dominated by a private operator in Limerick and similar issues will arise elsewhere sooner rather than later because the local authority system is not sustainable. Those who are now in receipt of waivers will be turning to their community welfare officers for support in this area.

The two main elements of the Bill are changes to the jobseeker's allowance and the supplementary allowance for those between the age brackets of 18 to 21 and 22 to 24. I have spoken to a large number of people since these proposals were first made. One woman I met was delighted because it would get her 19 year old son off the couch. She felt he was getting too much money while living at home. However, questions arise in regard to appropriate training and suitable employment.

Many of the young men I come across were lured from education by high wages in the construction sector. Now they have lost the opportunity to finish their apprenticeships and have nowhere to turn. The thought of retraining within the construction sector seems pointless to them.

Education and training have to be the next step for these young men but they will need adequate services and facilities if they are to be successful. I served as a member of the Cork VEC and on the boards of two further training colleges. Cork has three excellent further training colleges, Coláiste Stiofáin Naofa, St. John's Central College and Cork College of Commerce. It was refreshing to see how the staff and principals of these colleges responded to the market demands by developing new courses. They are extremely flexible in reacting to the market and the service they provide is second to none in terms of training young people and those who are on a career path that no longer exists. I am disappointed that they have not been allowed to expand sufficiently in response to the strong demand for training.

Sections 17 and 18 refers to what is termed "appropriate training". Does this relate to the qualifications an individual possesses or ones which may help him or her to find employment? We will have an opportunity to answer this question on Committee Stage.

What exactly does the term "suitable employment" involve? If somebody is qualified and has worked for a decade in a certain profession which now offers limited employment opportunities, will he or she be required to take up alternative employment? The definition needs to be clarified because it will be the basis for decisions that will be made in social welfare offices across the country.

I am aware of a 19 year old who had the option of working for three months but chose not to do so because he would be put on the lower rate when he reapplied for benefits. Young people under the age of 20 who qualify under existing schemes face this hurdle if they take up short-term employment.

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