Frances Fitzgerald (Fine Gael)

It is shocking that 300 families are to be confronted with unemployment. There needs to be a renewed focus on training that links in with the opportunities that will arise in the market. This is really important. The other day, I met a constituent who used to be an electrician. He told me he has done two training courses with FÁS, but the courses did not include any link with potential jobs or with industry. If FÁS is to continue to get money from the Government, it should give a commitment to provide relevant training and to help people who are unemployed to have a chance of getting back into the real economy. That is critical if people are to have some hope. Something has to be done to stop the crumbling of this country's economic reputation. At this stage, the Government has to come clean on what it knows. I refer in particular to what the Taoiseach knows from his time as Minister for Finance.