Marie Moloney (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I support the Minister in this matter. Most people in the country want people who draw social welfare to be answerable to somebody in the Department. I understand what Senator Cullinane has said and sometimes courses may not suit people or an unemployed person may feel that he or she is being forced to take part in an unsuitable course. As with Senator Cullinane, I have been dealing with social welfare officers for nearly 17 years, which is a long time. I know a social welfare officer can be approached and told that a course really does not suit a person, and the officer will give a chance to see if another, more suitable course arises.

They are not heartless people. We are giving the impression here that social welfare officers are heartless. They are not heartless, they listen to people and they have been engaging. The introduction of the Intreo offices, which I hope will be rolled out throughout the country, has been fantastic. One can walk off the street every Tuesday afternoon into the Intreo office in Killarney and go upstairs where one will be met by three people, one from FÁS, as we knew it, another from the Department of Social Protection and another lady who sits down with the individual to see what course best suits them.

This will cut out working in the black market. Some people do not want to go on these courses because they are working in the black market, so this is another way of stamping this out. The appeals system is open to people if they feel they are being unfairly treated. I do not think this will cause many problems for people because the majority of them want to work and will do anything to get back into the jobs market. In particular, as Senator Cullinane said, people who have worked all their lives are the first people at the door looking for a job. They do not want to be at home and drawing social welfare so they will engage with anything that can help them. I will be supporting this section.