Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Higgins for his comments. I do not think it is in any way anti-social to call people who find themselves on the live register to discussions about what it is that they might like to do, about their ambitions, their competencies and their experience in order to try to give them an opportunity to get into the world of work. As I pointed out to Deputy Adams, more than 60 people in the Dundalk area have come off the live register and are now working with PayPal. They measure up to the standards that are required in terms of their ability to do a very good job. We have seen that happening in so many other areas. People are working not just for companies from abroad that have invested here but also for indigenous companies run by self-employed people, and some are forming their own companies.

I know from his background that Deputy Higgins understands it is important that work is seen to pay and that people are able to reap the rewards of their work.

The old chicken-and-egg situation whereby if one does not have a job, one cannot gain experience and if one does not have experience, one cannot get a job is one of the reasons JobBridge - which came about as a result of discussions between the Department of Social Protection and private enterprise - was introduced. While I have heard about instances where attempts were made to abuse JobBridge, the majority of young graduates with whom I have spoken informed me that they enjoyed the experience of working for a company or a business. Those individuals were either kept on, proceeded to establish businesses themselves or used the experience as a route to move elsewhere. Availing of places on JobBridge was better for them than languishing on the live register with no hope, initiative or motivation in the context of making the contribution which everyone knows they are capable of making. That is important. It must be also remembered that the Tús scheme has given a new sense of pride and initiative to many people who live in small rural areas.

The European Commission and various European agencies produce reports on a regular basis. The best information available, based on the maximum subvention for Irish Water, shows an average charge of €60 per quarter. Obviously, the Deputy will have seen the potential of this in the context of job creation, the provision of proper infrastructure throughout the country and securing our future. We are aware that water is becoming a source of serious contention between the governments of different countries. In light of our geographical location, we have access to large amounts of this previous resource and we must conserve it for our people, businesses, etc., in the best way possible.

Matters have moved in a progressive fashion in recent years. Deputy Higgins is well aware that between 1,000 and 1,200 jobs are being created in the private sector every week. That is very good. These figures are not mere statistics, they relate to young men and women who are being given the opportunity to go to work. We must build on what has been already done in this regard. I welcome the reports which emerged earlier today and which show the beginnings of an increase in house building in the private sector. Clearly, this will not be sufficient to meet our needs.

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