Paschal Mooney (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I appreciate that the Minister is responding to the debate on behalf of his colleague.

It is also an opportunity for the Government of the day to highlight what it believes to be its priorities rather than to address the specific issues that are raised in the question. In this instance, I must say I am somewhat disappointed with three quarters of the reply. It does not really address what I specifically asked. The final part of the reply makes reference to the fact that staff can undertake full-time FETAC training in child care, but I made it quite clear that the issue I am concerned with is part-time training. Many of the people in our survey who have undertaken FETAC training up to level 5 are working in the home and would not, therefore, be in a position to take up full-time study. All of these courses, with respect, apply to those who are completely unemployed and who want to get involved in full-time education or to upskill from another sector. The people to whom I refer do not want to re-skill or upskill in some other area. They want to enhance their skills in the area they have already chosen, namely child care. The only glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel is provided by the final sentence, where the Minister says that he takes on board the concerns that have been raised in this motion and that they will be given consideration in the context of the budgetary process. I know it is completely outside the Minister's brief but I am sure that he is as concerned about the unemployed in his area as I am about those without work in my own. I hope that as he sits at the Cabinet table he will take account of the fact that there is a cohort of people who would like to continue in part-time education but who cannot do so because they cannot afford the fees. I thank the Minister for his reply.