Ciarán Cannon (Fine Gael)

This morning in County Galway alone 24,000 people got up with nothing to do. They are unemployed but the vast majority of them do not want to be unemployed. They are more than willing to roll up their sleeves and make whatever contribution is needed in their communities. I know this because a huge number of them have told me so. At the same time, Galway County Council, like many local authorities, is cash-strapped and looking at a debt this year of €30 million. The largest vacuum it has is in human resources and the vast majority of people who are unemployed are more than willing to fill that vacuum. This is a very straightforward equation. When I raised this issue on 24 September the response of the Leader was:

I say to the Government it is about time whoever is in charge would cover the insurance of tidy towns committees or town development committees for individuals and groups of young people. If young people want to work voluntarily in areas identified by those experts who are advising these committees, insurance should not be the problem...I certainly will allow a debate on this take place at the earliest time.

The delay in having this debate is mimicked by the Leader's colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Conor Lenihan, who last July, following the very worthwhile ideas campaign conducted by Aileen O'Toole, took only three or four ideas from that campaign, one of which was to establish a community voluntary corps. This has not happened, the debate promised a month ago has not happened and people are still more than willing to make that contribution.

If the Leader of the House is adamant that the House remains relevant and that the issues we raise have import the notes he so furiously scribbles every day should not be consigned to the bin as he leaves but should result in real and meaningful responses given to the issues that we raise every day.