Tom Shehan (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I appreciate that the Minister could not attend and I know that she is a very busy lady. I should have specified at the outset that the man to whom I refer applied under the TESG scheme. However, he was told that in order to qualify for the scheme his possible employer must provide a commencement date and from that date, whether the job went ahead or not, he would be knocked off his social welfare payment. That seems to be the kernel of the problem. I would like a manager in the Department of Social Protection to say "Okay, you will qualify to get your Safe Pass certified." The man needs somebody to put it in writing that the employer will possibly have a job for him in the near future. One can get that confirmation from a possible employer, but the fact that the man will be knocked off his social welfare from that date, whether the job goes ahead or not, is a bit archaic. I reiterate that this man wants to work. I will try to contact the Department myself with the information supplied by the Minister of State and I appreciate the comprehensive reply.