Dominic Hannigan (Labour)

Since we last met we have seen the loss of 900 positions from the Quinn Group in the north east. Our own MEP, Nessa Childers, is attempting to determine whether there is EU funding that could be used to help in this regard. I compliment the Minister on his swift action in allocating €1 million from the labour activation fund towards the creation of jobs for those Quinn Group employees who are unfortunate enough to be losing their jobs. This announcement has been welcomed by all parties. The appointment of the former chief executive of Enterprise Ireland to the inter-agency team is to be welcomed and, it is to be hoped, will help a bad situation to become somewhat better.

More needs to be done in helping people who have been made redundant, particularly with regard to retraining. For post-leaving certificate courses, there is a cap of about 35,000 on the number of places available. It needs to be increased. We must also consider how these places are allocated across the country. In places such as Dunboyne - just beside Blanchardstown where many Quinn Group employees will lose their jobs - there has been an increase in the number of applicants for post-leaving certificate courses, from 500 last year to 800 this year. People will be turned away because there are insufficient places available. I, therefore, ask for a debate on the issue of retraining and how we deal with PLC course allocations.