Terry Brennan (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I, too, wish to acknowledge the reduction in the live register figures. Thankfully, the number of people signing on for social welfare has continued to fall 39 consecutive months in a row. That is great news. Unemployment figures are down from a high of 15.1% in February 2012 to 10.1% currently, and the figure is about to reduce to below 10% for the first time in many years.

I have no doubt that the Government's Action Plan for Jobs is working. That must be recognised and appreciated. There are decreases in all eight regions of the country, and the fastest decrease is in the mid-west region. In excess of 141,000 people left the live register in the past 12 months. That is a true indication that the Government's plans for job creation are working, and long may those efforts continue. I congratulate the Minister, Deputy Bruton, and his team on that magnificent achievement.