Labhrás Ó Murchú (Fianna Fail)

Currently there are waiting lists for places on training schemes. The question has been asked what we are doing for young people. FÁS can help young people by retraining them and assisting them in getting back into the workplace. FÁS is assisting the most vulnerable too. There are many people who will never enter mainstream employment and for whom FÁS services are vital. It is important these people have a reason to get out of bed every morning. It is through providing opportunities that we can lift the depression of communities.

Many of our training schemes have had a 95% success rate in terms of job placements. I have not pulled this information out of the air and can show where this has happened. In the past we were able to train people, give them confidence and return them to the workplace. Surely, this is what we should be seeking to do now. I expect the cut and thrust during the next couple of days in regard to the budget but when that passes ,we will still have to deal with the real world.

It is important the Government has set in place a strong, realistic, economic foundation on which we can build. It seems to meet all the necessary criteria for maintaining our credibility not just internally but also internationally. I am delighted that FÁS will continue to play a central role in solving the problem of unemployment.