Maria Byrne (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister and thank him for coming and sharing his ideas and listening to our ideas and concerns. The aim of social protection must be to provide those citizens who find themselves unemployed or unable to work with a helping hand and a decent standard of living. In 2016, some €19.6 billion - 36% of the overall national budget - was allocated to the Department of Social Protection to enable it to assist people who need State support. The corresponding figure in 2000 was €6.7 billion which rose to €15.5 billion by 2007 as a result of the dramatic upturn in the economy which preceded the recession. At that time the unemployment level stood at 4.4%, a situation generally regarded as full employment. Over the next few years the system had to adapt very rapidly and cater for the dramatic rise in unemployment to 15% in 2012.

The Department is responsible for a very wide range of services which benefit people at every stage of their lives - child benefit to old age pensions. In 2013, it was estimated that 2.2 million people benefited from some form of social protection, but with the fall in unemployment since it would be fair to conclude that this number has fallen by a sizeable amount. Recipients of benefits from the Department of Social Protection fall into two broad categories, long term and short term. Child benefit and retirement pensions together with long-term disability are in the first category while unemployment and illness are regarded as of shorter duration though there is a very significant problem with long-term unemployment. It is vital that the most vulnerable in society are looked after properly. The young and elderly make up a large part of this category and it is fair to say that successive Governments have tried to improve their situation and ensure they have a decent standard of living. Those with long-term disability and their carers must also be looked after and I am glad that all these categories received some increase in State support in the 2016 budget. The Minister said he hoped to bring in the Christmas bonus in 2016.It would be great if the Minister could give 100%, maybe not in 2016 but he might look at it for 2017.

Unemployment is a huge challenge. The financial cost is high but the social cost is even higher. The aim must be to ensure that those losing jobs or entering the market are in meaningful and gainful employment as quickly as possible. Many of our traditional industries have greatly declined or ceased to exist; an example from my own area is the clothing industry. Workers find that the skills they have used and perfected over many years are no longer relevant. New companies starting up are seeking different skills and we have to make every effort to retrain and upskill as many as possible. Much good work is being done through adult education and training courses. The over 50s are very vulnerable to these changes in the labour market. We must also look at the issues of poverty and unemployment traps, where many people find they are better off not working at all. It is imperative that we, as a Government and a society, address this issue.

Community employment schemes are beneficial on two fronts. They provide useful experience to participants, keep them in the workforce and encourage them to retrain and upskill. They are of great benefit to the many voluntary community groups and sports clubs that organise them. They supplement the enormous amount of time and effort that thousands of our citizens give to their club or charity on a voluntary basis. With the very welcome fall in unemployment, I urge the Minister review the community employment scheme rules with a view to giving younger participants a longer period of employment if they require it. Twelve months can be a short time in which to find a job especially in areas with low employment opportunities. Many self-employed people have endured severe hardship in recent years and I am aware the Minister is looking at this issue. They play a vital role in the economy, they invest their talent and their money and provide a lot of employment. When they fall on hard times, they need to be looked after and helped to recover. In recent years, we have all heard of the severe hardship which the self-employed and their families have had to endure without the umbrella of the social protection system. I ask the Minister to please review this area and I look forward to hearing his views in due course.