Seanad debates

Monday, 30 April 2012

Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed)

 

2:00 pm

Photo of Joan BurtonJoan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)

As stated earlier, there is a key role for social investment in the context of Ireland's recovery and its participation in the programme with the troika. While the latter is seeking consolidation - that is, savings - in certain areas, I acknowledge that, as Senators have just stated, there is a critical role to be played in respect of social investment and the delivery of social services. If anything, my hope is that there will ultimately be an expansion when the review process is completed. Unemployment statistics are improving on quite a modest basis at present. The figure for unemployment has fallen to approximately 430,000, which is an extremely modest improvement. Unemployment remains at a very high level.

In more remote areas - such places can often be just five miles from the nearest town------

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