Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent)

The Minister should keep in mind that most of the initiatives to which he has referred are directed towards Waterford. Wexford has a much faster growing population. It is one of the country's fastest growing populations. Many of the issues I raised are of a social nature and outside the Minister's remit, but the lack of jobs feeds into them. For example, Gorey community school is the largest school in the country. When I visited it last week, people were worried that students would fall through the net because of the cut to guidance teachers.

The lack of jobs is creating social problems, yet we are cutting the measures to deal with those problems. Given that Wexford has a fast growing population and has already fallen behind, its circumstances will worsen without active intervention on the part of the Government.

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