Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)

I thank Deputy Martin Ferris and Sinn Féin for allowing me speak. I thank Sinn Féin in particular for bringing this Private Members' motion before the House. I truly believe that in her heart and soul the Minister knows the valuable contribution made by community employment schemes to their communities. I truly believe that both she and the members of the Labour Party realise that the CE schemes are more than just about jobs; they also do very important work which cannot be taken up by anybody else. They are helping voluntary community organisations who have no other funding from any other sources. I have heard the Minister say that we will not lose the CE schemes but the truth is if the funding is cut, the schemes will be in danger. If we lose them, what will take their place, who will do the work? Who will work in conjunction with the family resource centres? Who will work with the local tidy towns committees to keep public areas in order? Who will help our elderly people? There has been massive work and organisation put into setting up CE schemes and helping them to perform excellent work. They deliver a great service and it is a shame if we are to allow that to be destroyed because there is no alternative and nothing can take up the slack.

I plead with those who are thinking of coming in here tomorrow night and voting against this motion. I ask them to reconsider and to vote, as I stated last week, with the people and not with the party. The Government has a massive majority and the problem is that the majority is too big. That is why people think they can inflict this hardship on people.

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