Colm Burke (Fine Gael)

I wish to add to what my colleague Senator Cáit Keane had to say on the JobBridge programme. When it was introduced, a public nursing home applied to be included in the programme, but it was advised it could not be part of it. However, representations having been made to the Minister, she changed the regulation so that now people who want to get experience of working with elderly people can apply to public nursing homes and get on to the JobBridge programme. This is working out well. I spoke to the matron of the nursing home in question yesterday and she advised me that this is working out very well. This is about training people and making them available then to work with elderly people in the community, which is welcome.

The next time the Minister is in this House, it would be appropriate to have a discussion on the JobBridge programme to discuss what further changes could be made to include more people in it and to encourage employers to give them the experience they need to work in different areas. There is a need for training in caring for the elderly and working in a public nursing home would provide significant experience that could then be used for the benefit of others. The next time the Minister is here we should include in our discussion a review of the progress of the JobBridge programme.