Diarmuid Wilson (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I second Senator O'Donovan's amendment to the Order of Business.

I join colleagues in welcoming yesterday's announcement of the JobsPlus pilot scheme. I hope it is a success even though it starts with relatively low numbers of just 2,500. I commend everybody involved in the JobBridge scheme, which has been very successful to date even though there are some anomalies. People have been provided with work experience from educational establishments such as the new educational and training boards. Even though some people have only worked for a number of months on the scheme, they find themselves laid off during the summer months because the schools are closed for the summer holidays or the offices are not operating to full capacity during the summer. This is regrettable. Schools still need to be maintained even though the students are not present. Painting and other summer work schemes need to take place. I ask the Minister to look at that anomaly regarding educational establishments because several hundred people have been laid off over the summer months even though they have not completed their placements.

I agree with what Senator Quinn said about defibrillators. Some mechanism should be introduced to avoid having to pay VAT on these essential pieces of equipment that can save lives.