Michael Mullins (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the fact that unemployment figures have dropped significantly in the past year. There are 30,500 fewer people unemployed than there were 12 months ago. The unemployment level is down to 8.6%. We can see evidence that the income that is being generated as a result of more people being back at work is being spent productively in all our communities. In my own town, Ballinasloe, I have seen the announcement of two new schools and investment in the local town hall, the Garda station and the fire station, and the local rugby and soccer clubs received moneys through the sports capital programme. We hope it will remain a priority of the incoming Government that the excellent work that was commenced through the Action Plan for Jobs in 2012 will continue and will have renewed impetus. I certainly look forward to seeing significant job announcements for towns such as Ballinasloe in the next 12 to 18 months.The Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Deputy Richard Bruton, is to be applauded, as are the Ministers of State who have served in that Department, and the Minister's officials, who have worked diligently to ensure An Action Plan for Jobs was driven from the top and bought into by all members of the Cabinet. The recovery now must be continued, and I am sure that when people go to make very important decisions in three weeks time, they will want to ensure the recovery continues.