Tom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael)

I do not want to repeat myself but I did say that people are more supportive of what is happening than what many Opposition Deputies may think.

In the past 24 hours many participants in FÁS schemes have contacted our offices and voiced their concerns about the grant being reduced from €1,500 to €500. If we were living in different economic times and our country was better off one could have left the grant as it was, but we are not. Nothing was mentioned about any of the schemes because they have made major contributions in many parishes, towns and villages throughout the country. I suggest that if it were possible I have no doubt the Government would leave the grant untouched, but it cannot do so. I call on the Minister to put in place a mechanism whereby schemes which demand more goods, cement or materials than others can make a special case and that a window of opportunity be put in place for them.

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