Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Much of the Government's communications yesterday focused on returning to work and supports for business, but pillar 2 of the recovery plan, as it is called, includes a number of commitments that fall well short of people's lived experiences. It seems that, increasingly, there is a disconnect between Government policy objectives and the outcomes experienced on the ground. No amount of spin, whoever is spinning, can hide the fact that the Government announced yesterday its intention to close the pandemic unemployment payment, PUP, scheme and reduce supports gradually for people who are out of work as a direct consequence of Covid.

We know from research published last month that young people have been hardest hit by unemployment and reduced employment opportunities and progression from Covid-19. A study published today using CSO data tells us that almost three in five of those aged between 18 and 24 were unemployed in March. That is a shocking situation. Therefore, it makes it all the more incredible that in the neighbourhood in which I live, in Cabra, Dublin, the Dublin education and training board, ETB, has decided to end the provision of further education courses at Cabra Community College. This decision was made with no consultation or alternatives offered. It is disastrous and myopic and it will fail the people, and the young people in particular, of not just Cabra but the entire district of Dublin 7. I ask the Taoiseach to raise this matter urgently with the Minister, Deputy Harris, with a view to having it reversed.

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