Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Last Monday, we took a trip to see approximately 25 businesses in County Donegal to get an understanding of their status. We were at an engineering firm on the Inishowen Peninsula, whose management made the point that the way in which Lean management and Lean manufacturing programmes are delivered through Enterprise Ireland is very awkward for them. They end up not accessing them from Enterprise Ireland but privately. The firm's management also told us that the electricity costs it pays are at a higher unit rate than domestic costs. Perhaps the Minister can look into that issue because the manufacturing firm in question is being charged higher costs than in a private household.

The businesses we spoke to said one key issue that is creating difficulties with regard to employment is that when people take jobs for €14 or €15 per hour they often fall off a welfare benefit cliff. They would therefore lose medical cards and education allowances completely. Consequently it meant that they do not take up those jobs. If such allowances could be maintained for a higher level of income, such people would not find themselves in that position. They would then be able to resume paid employment within the manufacturing industry.

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