Denis Landy (Labour) | Oireachtas source

On Monday very good news was broadcast by the Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Joan Burton, in Waterford, the capital of the south east, when she launched the JobsPlus scheme, which provides an opportunity for long-term unemployed people to get back into full-time work. If we want any proof of the success of the Seanad we should take that as an example. This initiative was brought to the Seanad by Senator John Kelly and to the Joint Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation of which Senator Kelly is a member. It was championed by him, and then became a Government initiative. Those who say the work of the Seanad is meaningless should be aware that thousands of people will avail of this scheme in the coming months.

This is an important scheme but it involves many nuances, angles and eligibility criteria. I call on the Leader to request the Minister, Deputy Burton, to attend the House to outline the detail of this scheme for Members so that we can be acquainted with it and ensure that the maximum number of those who are long-term unemployed can get back to work while giving an opportunity to employers to increase the number of people they employ.