Denis Landy (Labour) | Oireachtas source

As we mark the third anniversary of the election of this Government, I want to welcome the efforts it has made to reduce unemployment. The employment position has improved over the past 18 months. Unemployment figures have decreased. Given that the previous Administration, by contrast, oversaw 250,000 job losses, it is clear that this Government is doing a good job. Some 5,000 jobs are being created each month. The retail sector has expressed optimism for the year ahead. The Government has provided €1 billion for a new training and upskilling scheme, Pathways to Work. For the first time, there is a further education and training strategy for the long-term unemployed. The JobBridge scheme has created opportunities for many people to go through education. Approximately 62% of those who have participated in the scheme have got full-time jobs. Some 1,280 people have got jobs arising from their participation in the JobsPlus scheme.

I wish to bring one or two areas in which we could do some more work to the attention of the Leader. I would like the Leader to ask the Minister for Social Protection to come to the House for a debate on these areas. The Gateway project is designed to take 3,000 people off the live register by providing opportunities through local authorities. This initiative has union approval. It seems like a very good opportunity for the long-term unemployed. To date, just 60 people have been taken off the live register and placed on this scheme. Just three local authorities have participated in it. Such a dismal return for this scheme needs to be examined and investigated. There are great opportunities in the hotel and catering industry as well. The head of the Irish Hotels Federation said today that 3,000 jobs are available in this country's hotel industry. It is about time to knock heads together to see what training these people need, to provide that training and to ensure we can put a further 3,000 people back to work in this country's economy. I ask the Leader to invite the Minister, Deputy Burton, to come to the House for a debate on this matter as soon as possible.