Maria Byrne (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I, too, wish to be associated with the votes of sympathy to former Councillor Noel Collins. He certainly was a gentleman. I know he will be missed by many and especially the people he represented over a long period. May he rest in peace.

I rise today because 700 is a number that is lucky for some in County Limerick and not lucky for others. More than 700 people were accepted into the mica scheme today. It is something in which I have been involved down through the years. I originally worked with people in relation to pyrite in County Limerick. I am very glad to say that Limerick was accepted into the pyrite scheme and has today been accepted into the mica scheme. More than 700 families will benefit from that, which is most welcome.

On the other hand, however, we are not even halfway through the month of June. There are 30 days in June; it is now 14 June and more than 700 people are on waiting lists for new beds in University Hospital Limerick, UHL. That is halfway through the month. We are not even in the winter season; this is summer. It is still at crisis point. I want to put that back on the agenda of this House.

Finally, tomorrow evening in St. Mary's Park in Limerick, the community centre is having its third jobs fair, which is being organised in the regeneration areas. I was in a community yesterday where I heard a very positive story whereby seven people who had never worked in their lives started employment ten days ago. They went to a jobs fair in Our Lady of Lourdes community centre and met with employers who were able to talk to them about the different jobs they were offering. Approximately 30 different organisations came forward offering jobs.

It is a great compliment to the Government that so many people are in employment. I believe unemployment figures are the lowest we have had since prior to the pandemic. It is a good news story when we see people who have never worked going back into the workforce and it is to be complimented.