Tom Shehan (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I ask the Leader to arrange to have the Minister for Social Protection come to the House if that is possible. A case was highlighted to me recently about those who are unemployed who had worked in the construction industry. They have a safe pass certificate and if it is due to expire the Department does not pay for it to be renewed. People are being told by the social welfare office that if they get work then the Department will pay for the renewal of the safe pass certificate. I met several people who told me they are registered with agencies in order to get employment but the first thing employers want is someone with a safe pass certificate. It is a case of the cart coming before the horse. The approach I suggest is more practical. I call on the Minister to resolve the difficulty. The situation is dependent on whom one meets in a social welfare office. I urge that the safe pass certificate would be made available to people who were in the construction industry who are now looking for work and that the cost would be covered by the Department because when one is on social welfare the cost of the certificate makes it unfeasible to renew it.