Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)

The demographic is starting to move through. We have seen an increase in the number of pupils in primary schools in recent years and last year was the first year when the large demographic numbers began to move through into second level, which creates jobs at that level as well. If one is a graduate and one participates in the graduate placement scheme one can get the higher rate for that.

Senators inquired whether that means we are washing our hands of everyone else, such as those aged 27, 28 or 29. Of course we are not. Those people will be called by the national employment action plan after some months on the live register and they will be interviewed and directed towards suitable places for them. The difference is that there is not an incentive to take up such places, which we discovered on pilot projects that young people need. Young people need a financial incentive to be able to participate on courses whereas older people and those who have been in the workforce are much more anxious to get back into it.