Dominic Hannigan (Labour)

I welcome the Minister of State and the opportunity to speak in this debate on the unemployment crisis that is hitting the country and the lack of implementation by the Government of a coherent jobs strategy. The most recent statistics from the CSO show that more than 400,000 people are out of work and seeking work in the country, which is almost 13% of the workforce. My home county of Meath has seen a dramatic increase of more than 200% in the number of people out of work in the past two years.

The day he assumed office the Taoiseach, Deputy Brian Cowen, stated that a focus on young people and their needs would be a particular priority for his Government. However, now more than 86,000 young people are on the live register, 2,000 of them in County Meath. As was stated by Senator Boyle, we have the second worst youth unemployment rate in Europe. One out of every three people under the age of 25 is unemployed. I do not accept the Green Party line that we should be cutting their payments. Young people are finding it increasingly difficult to survive. I am surprised at the Green Party espousing the notion that they can afford cuts to their social welfare payments.

Senator Boyle is correct that the spectre of forced emigration has returned. Up to 60,000 young people have left our shores in recent times. It is of benefit to many people; I spent many years outside the country and I think I gained significant experience from doing so. For many people emigration can be a positive experience but I worry about the impact that forced emigration can have on people, particularly those leaving Ireland with poor qualifications, little money and no support or social network at their destination. It is easy to fall on hard times and difficult to get out of situations when one cannot afford one's next month's rent or tomorrow's food. That is why we need to provide proper supports for the Diaspora. That is why I am concerned. I have previously pointed out in this House that we are cutting back on funding for organisations such as the Federation of Irish Societies. I have called for a debate on the funding of our Diaspora groups and remind the Leader that he agreed to arrange such a debate in the near future.

The longer young people remain out of work, the harder it will become for them to find employment, even after the economy recovers. That is why I am appalled by the Government's response. In the absence of employment opportunities, internships and work experience opportunities are badly needed. The Government has reduced allowances for those participating in vocational training opportunity schemes and Youthreach programmes and cut support for those who want to return to education. I note the presence in the Visitors Gallery of mature students from NUIG. A key concern for those participating in third level access courses is the reduction in maintenance grants. Approximately 2,000 students are severely affected by these cuts, to the tune of several thousands of euro.

Last week I learned that FÁS had established a working group to develop a youth framework for the unemployed and school leavers. It is not fair to say the Government is doing nothing because it has implemented a number of worthwhile measures but more needs to be done. The ideas and proposals brought forward by Opposition Members can help in this regard. On the few occasions the Government has taken action it has been unplanned, poorly executed or on an inadequate scale. Some time ago my party leader, Deputy Eamon Gilmore, proposed a work placement scheme for graduates. While I welcome the fact that the Government accepted our idea, its strategy was poorly designed and provided for an inadequate number of places. We must do better.

We have to consider ways of increasing employment opportunities in particular sectors. We were overly reliant on the construction sector during the boom but there are opportunities in regard to green energy and retrofitting houses. Our counterparts in Westminster are implementing such a programme in the United Kingdom as a key element of its strategy to reduce energy wastage. This programme will present opportunities for Irish house builders and construction companies if they can retrain their workers in the necessary skills because millions of houses will be retrofitted as a result of the UK Government's fiscal stimulus package.

We urgently need a jobs strategy. The Government needs to demonstrate the political will and leadership to implement such a strategy at the earliest opportunity.