Kevin Humphreys (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I follow the previous speaker's remarks on Grafton College, Portobello, where I attended the protest last night. It is disturbing to see language specialists who teach English as a foreign language being discarded so close to Christmas. They have been put in a position in which they do not know where the next euro will come from. Many of them are owed at least four weeks' salary and some are owed up to eight weeks' salary. I ask the Deputy Leader to support our request for the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection, Deputy Regina Doherty, to fast-track in some way any moneys due to employees through the insolvency scheme. It is a practical measure which could be taken. On previous occasions, the Department of Social Protection held special clinics to inform employees in cases like this of their rights and entitlements under its schemes. This practical step could be taken immediately. We did it in the case of Clerys when we met the workers at SIPTU's offices and I am sure Unite would make its building available for the teachers in this case to meet departmental officials to find out exactly what is available to them so close to Christmas.There is legislation coming forward in the House this week in regard to schools. We may have to amend that Bill to reflect this issue and give some sort of guarantee in regard to earned salary, so it is protected as outlined by the previous speaker. There are two practical elements the Minister could address. First, action could be taken immediately with regard to the insolvency fund. Second, a clinic could be set up by the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection for those unfortunate people who find themselves in this situation in order to inform them of exactly what their entitlements are. Above all, we need to regulate this sector, whether that is through a bond or a fund that has to be put in place to guarantee that workers get the salaries to which they are entitled and for which they have worked so hard.

I have raised several times with the Minister of State, Deputy English, the issue of the 3,500 housing units that could be provided on the Poolbeg west peninsula. This project has run into constant problems. The last time he was in the House, the Minister of State promised me a note on the progress on the negotiations on the 900 social and affordable units, and I would be grateful if this could be followed up. I have approached the Minister of State about it but, unfortunately, it has not been forthcoming yet.