Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)

Yesterday, I attended a joint committee meeting at which a presentation on the major information technology challenges was given. The achievement of the targets that have been set in Pathways to Work will also be challenging. Is the Minister confident that the extension of profiling to almost all new claimants by the end of this year, as set out in Pathways to Work, will be achieved? Has the Minister been in contact with the Minister for Education and Skills about the possibility of transferring to the Department some of the school guidance teachers who will become unemployed as a result of changes in the education sector? If they were head-hunted by the Department, they could continue to use the expertise they have gleaned from their years of dealing with young people who would be facing unemployment in the current climate if their guidance teachers had not managed to advise them and guide them towards work. Has any movement been made in that regard?

See this speech in context