Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)

If somebody has significant other incomes and additional social welfare payments are being made, the problem with the social welfare budget is that, given that we only have €20.5 billion to spend, if we are to be able to live within that budget we must find savings in some areas.

The most important issue in social welfare is that we build a modern welfare state. The values of a welfare state are important, including the notion that we protect children and make provision for them on a universal basis through education and child benefit. It is also important to look after older people and that they should have security about their income levels. For those of working age — from school leavers to retirement age in their 60s — it is most important to maintain the concept of a contributory system where people are encouraged and enabled to find work. If at the moment, in this difficult recession, they do not have access to easy employment, they should be encouraged to go back to school, training and education to qualify for the jobs that are there.

On 1 January 2012, when the FÁS labour services come into my Department, I hope we will build a strong connection with employers. Senator O'Keeffe spoke about technology, and the Revenue on-line services have revolutionised how many self-employed people present tax returns. I hope we will move to a situation whereby if employers are seeking somebody for a short, or hopefully a longer period it will be possible to suspend somebody's social welfare payment fairly easily without having to go to the back of the queue if the employment does not last. It is more than possible to do that. In addition, employers will be able to make rapid contact with the Department of Social Protection where they have vacancies. They will then get information about people with relevant qualifications for the type of job they are interested in filling. That is absolutely essential.

Every year, even in the current recession, about 130,000 people change jobs. There are many people who are successful in finding work. Those who are unsuccessful are people whose educational qualifications may be limited, or may not have a network to know where the vacancies are and where their skills may be of specific use. We also know from employers in the IT sector that they have to take people from abroad because they do not have enough qualified people in Ireland for the kind of jobs they offer.

I am very impressed by organisations like FIT, Fast Into Technology, who train people in conjunction with employers for technology vacancies that arise. If we can get a good relationship between employers and the Department of Social Protection when the changes come in on 1 January 2012, we could offer many more opportunities to people. I have been impressed that, so far, more than 5,000 employers have offered places on JobBridge. I suspect that is because many employers are interested in taking additional people on and JobBridge or interning gives them an opportunity to do so over a period. There are 3,000 people plus now on JobBridge and the feedback is positive. There are 2,000 people currently on Tús, while there were none seven months ago. In a nine-month period, we have had an extra 5,000 people between JobBridge and Tús. Those vacancies have been filled by a new co-operation agreement between the Department of Social Protection and the old FÁS, so the omens are good.

Social welfare staff have taken enormous increases in the numbers of people applying. They have also accepted huge change with the community welfare officers coming into the Department of Social Protection, as well as the FÁS people. We have plenty of opportunity to reform our social welfare system in a positive way while maintaining a welfare state that is fair and just, but enables people to be contributors. At the end of the day, they will be economically independent for themselves and their children.