Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

Physical premises represent one of the most significant difficulties. The Deputy has visited a social welfare office operating the new scheme. The key to the new scheme is having sufficient space to carry out the group engagements, at which we outline to people initially the services, schemes and opportunities the Department is making available. We also set out for people in these engagements their obligation to co-operate with the Department to get back to work. One-on-one interviews are then required to take place. We have conducted large numbers of such interviews and more than met the targets set. We need from the OPW offices at which we can conduct this business. The new offices offer levels of privacy and provide for discreet appointments.

I am in constant touch with the OPW to ensure that it remains extremely supportive and on the case in providing us with the offices.

The troika has gone out to a number of the offices and has been very impressed. A critical issue for the troika is that if, for instance, there was more growth in the economy - I note that a number of the partners to the troika, such as the IMF, have admitted that they got some of the ambitions for Ireland wrong and underestimated the effect of deflation - that would have an impact on the numbers getting back to work. The troika arrived in town today and that discussion is ongoing with it.

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