Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

Deputy Ó Caoláin's point is very valid. He read out comments from people who feel frustrated and locked into a system. They feel there is no assistance for them to get through this maze, so this requires practical and pragmatic adjustment. One of the legacies is that the investment was not made in IT programmes within the Department of Social Protection to streamline efficiencies and bring about a much faster response in changing the structural bureaucracy and conditions attaching to many of those schemes. It was never put in place and we cannot do it overnight.

The Minister for Social Protection, the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, and the Minister for Education and Skills are working on labour activation measures. For instance, if every small firm in the country could take on one extra person, it would have a great impact on the live register and on morale, as well as bringing about increased economic activity. We are trying to focus on labour activation measures in addition to greater efficiencies in the Department of Social Protection by cutting out fraudulent activities and waste that applies in that Department, as in many others. The emphasis will be on labour activation measures to get people to accept training courses, upskilling and getting back to education. In addition, through other Departments there will be the opportunity to get involved in business, jobs, careers and opportunities, which everybody will support. If Members of the Opposition have valid and constructive proposals, we will certainly take those on board because they are in the public interest.

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