Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)

As the Deputy knows well, I cannot make any commitment in advance of the budget being framed for next year. I am being honest with the Deputy on that. I do not know if the Deputy is asking me to make budgetary commitments for next year, but I am not in a position to do that. However, following my examination I have proposed to the Government that carers are not appropriate to be included in the strategy. This was also recommended by the committee. The objective of ensuring that everybody of working age has an opportunity to work, particularly people on the live register who are fully available for work, should be encouraged in so far as possible. Last year, over 140,000 people left the live register. Therefore, it is not true to say there is no movement in the job market. There is a considerable number of people unemployed, over 300,000 and we have large numbers of people in part-time employment, over 80,000. A considerable number of people are involved in various programmes, including JobBridge, Tús and the community employment schemes, and in educational schemes. It is sometimes depressing for people to hear Deputies say there are no opportunities out there. There are opportunities, and last year more than 140,000 people left the live register to take up employment. It is important that we encourage and provide avenues for everyone on the live register to take up employment.

With regard to people with disabilities, I have undertaken a number of initiatives to make specific additional supports available which will, I hope, assist people with disabilities who are interested in getting employment - of whom there are many - in entering the labour market. That is very important. The employment situation is particularly difficult for them in the context of the current economic difficulties.

See this speech in context