Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Deputy can be assured that I will not lash out money left, right and centre. I will look for value for money, which is what the Government is doing across a range of Departments. We now have a clear plan to guide this economy to better times. Our economy has stabilised.

Employment is increasing, international confidence has returned and the economy has returned to growth. Employment has increased by 42,000 in the past 12 months compared with 300,000 lost in the final three years of the previous Fianna Fáil Administration. Much of the focus in alleviating poverty is going to be determined by the number of jobs and the level of employment available in regions and constituencies. I realise there is a particular difficulty in parts of Deputy Finian McGrath's constituency, but I wish to forge a direct link between the alleviation of poverty and the tackling of child poverty and the creation of jobs. The job creation and job facilitation figures continue to grow. I accept it is not at a pace we would like but it is regarded as steady.

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