Susan O'Keeffe (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the restoration of the summer works and minor works schemes announced today by the Department of Education and Skills. The money that will be spent by schools will be well spent and, what is important, it will be spent in the local economy of the area of each school. It will buy local labour and local goods. The money will cycle through the economy and have a double contribution by improving the schools and the economy.

I welcome the Minister for Finance's promised amendment to the one-parent family tax credit. There was considerable lobbying and many people were displeased. He has listened to the suggestions made and will allow the credit to be used by a non-primary carer in cases where the primary carer has no tax liability. That is something we should welcome.

There are young people in the Visitors Gallery, many of whom may benefit from the 44,500 jobs in the ICT sector that Forfás has predicted over the next six years. I hope some of those young people will able to get involved in next week's science week, which celebrates the contribution Irish people have made to science and, more important, highlights the role science, technology, engineering and mathematics have in the careers of young people. I hope those jobs will stay in Ireland and that we will be able to employ Irish people in those jobs.

I hope I am not too late in congratulating Sligo Rovers on their victory last Sunday.