Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)

I thank the Minister for his reply. I referred to PayPal. Its vice president said when the jobs announcement was made that, "In the last two weeks and months I have been looking for a number of potential locations in Europe and Ireland. However, due to the rich talent and language skills of the workforce in Ireland we decided it was the best place where we wanted to do business". PayPal also encouraged those without languages and the unemployed to apply for jobs. It said it was very confident that people who had language skills would be those they would want to employ. I understand more projects are coming down the road.

I very much welcome the literacy and numeracy initiative. There was a school library grant which, I am sorry to say, the last Government did away with. I understand €2 million was involved. I would like to see the Minister reconsider the initiative. An allocation of even €1 million would provide €40,000 to every county. The great library service we have allows 15 of the same book to be lent to schools, which enables them to do projects. I criticised the former Minister for the decision. The school library service will come to a halt because books will not be replaced and more fund-raising will be required.

The expert group that reported last Tuesday on jobs, markets and opportunities stated most advertised positions were in sales and ICT and third level qualifications are required. Foreign languages, particularly German and Nordic languages, continue to be in demand. That is the most recent report I have seen. The Minister should take what it said about foreign languages on board.

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