Jim Daly (Cork South West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister's response and confirmation because the single greatest challenge for us is getting people off the long-term unemployment register and back to work. Every Department has a part to play in this task. One of the more notable successes of the Government is that the Department of Social Protection has moved away from just issuing cheques and is now heavily involved in labour activation measures. Every other Department must step up to the mark on that front, too. It is important, when Departments are spending their budgets, that they do so with a social conscience and target the long-term unemployed. I am delighted with the Minister's proactive approach to this issue and his Department's determination to assist the long-term unemployed by ensuring some of the billions it is spending are directed towards them. There is also a local element to this issue. Many of the projects cross several Departments, be they school building, road projects and so forth. A lot of those employed on such projects can travel from 20 counties away and it is hard to understand how this happens or justify it. I urge the Minister to place more emphasis on local employment iniitiatives, where possible.

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