Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I have met the local employment services staff in Cork. They have been under Cork City Partnership for over 25 years. Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and Green Party councillors in Cork have come out in support of them. The Taoiseach made clear his support for them in the past. The local employment services provide valuable services for those seeking employment, including vulnerable groups, those returning to the workforce after long periods, carers and lone parents. Why, therefore, is the Government still pushing the privatisation agenda? We need a stronger community sector, not profit at all costs. Local employment services provide a vital service that helps people to get work in communities that desperately need jobs and the services provided.

There is so much more I want to say but what I am saying is that what is happening to the local employment services in my constituency, which provide valuable work for the people of Cork, is completely wrong. Shame on Fianna Fáil and the Green Party because this is Fine Gael's privatisation agenda, which it had pushed in respect of Irish Water, bin collections, addiction services, recovery services, homelessness services and local authorities. Ultimately, Fine Gael is the privatisation party in this Dáil, and Fianna Fáil and the Green Party are allowed to get away with daylight robbery. It is about time that they stood up and said to Fine Gael that there should be no more privatisation of our community services.

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