Vol. 661 No. 1
111 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the action she is taking to respond to financial mismanagement within FÁS as revealed by recent internal audit reports; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31354/08]
Regular internal audits are part of the normal governance process of any organisation and I am aware that, of the many internal audits carried out into both FÁS activities and projects funded by FÁS, some have shown up irregularities and possible occasions of fraud. FÁS has referred two cases of possible fraudulent activity to the Garda Síochána. Some internal audits have also indicated areas where management or financial controls could be improved. In my view, the process of internal audit is an important, appropriate and normal activity in any organisation.
The Comptroller and Auditor General in his report on non-commercial semi-State bodies, published in May 2008, reviewed the issues raised in a specific FÁS internal audit report. I discussed this matter with the director general of FÁS and expressed my concerns about the issues raised by both the Comptroller and Auditor General and the internal audit reports and, in particular, the need to secure value for money in public expenditure.
On my instruction, the Secretary General of my Department wrote to FÁS on 30 June 2008 seeking the formal assurance of the director general of FÁS that the practices outlined in the FÁS internal and Comptroller and Auditor General audit reports had ceased; that adequate systems and controls are in place to prevent any recurrence; and requesting details of the remedial actions taken by FÁS in respect of the issues raised by the audit reports, with quarterly progress reports on the implementation of the audit reports' recommendations. The FÁS director general replied on 1 July 2008 confirming that the unacceptable practices referred to in the audit reports had ceased and that adequate systems and controls are now in place to prevent any recurrence. The next quarterly report is due at the end of September.
In order to address wider continuing concerns about the management and control systems in place in FÁS generally, and following further discussions with the chairman and director general of FÁS, I have also decided that there should be an external investigation into the effectiveness of the agency's financial management and control systems. This examination is to ensure that appropriate public procurement procedures exist to prevent or detect irregularities or wrongdoing and, in particular, examine and report on the activities of the FÁS corporate affairs area since 2000. The Comptroller and Auditor General has agreed to carry out such an investigation with a view to producing a special report on the matter. The report of the Comptroller and Auditor General will be furnished to me by him and will be presented by me to the Dáil in accordance with standard operating procedures.
I thank the Minister for her reply. I welcome the fact that this investigation has been requested by her and that it will occur. The response was slow, but a slow response is better than none. At a time of rising unemployment when we have a skills mismatch between the jobs available and those without jobs, it is important we have a functioning training agency. While many employees of FÁS do a good job and much good community work is done through the community employment, CE, schemes, it is clear that FÁS is failing as an organisation and the situation with regard to those at the top of the organisation is unsatisfactory.
I have two crucial questions on the issue. Will the Minister publish the terms of reference of the inquiry and will she assure me that it will not be limited to the corporate affairs section of FÁS? It appears that the irregularities, problems and mismanagement of FÁS go much further than corporate affairs and I would not like to see one department of the organisation hung or scapegoated. Will the Minister ask the Comptroller and Auditor General to look at the in-company training and services to business department of FÁS in particular? Both Deputy Kenny and I warned the Government about the issues in FÁS a year ago, but it did not listen properly at the time. Perhaps the Minister will listen to us now and ensure the Comptroller and Auditor General looks at that area also.
I have initiated an overall review of FÁS and that process has commenced. This overall project is outside the specific remit I have asked the Comptroller and Auditor General to consider. The Deputy is aware that matter will also be discussed at the beginning of October in the context of public accounts. If the Comptroller and Auditor General is of the view then that there is a need to examine something further, I am sure he will take that into consideration. There are, therefore, two processes taking place currently, one an overall review which had been considered by the previous Minister and is now under way and the other the specific inquiry on the issue mentioned.
No more than all of my colleagues, I am anxious for the betterment of FÁS. As the Deputy said, FÁS will be pivotal in supporting people who need upskilling and new employment opportunities. Therefore, I am anxious to ensure the corporate governance issues are addressed. Equally, I wish to ensure FÁS is given the support it requires to allow it do its work. For that reason, my preferred option is to have a specific investigation by the Comptroller and Auditor General and until we receive the outcome of that inquiry, I prefer not to impose any restrictions on the matter.
I am disappointed the investigation will be limited to corporate affairs. The Minister can be assured that Fine Gael will continue to pursue the irregularities that are occurring in all departments of FÁS, not just that one.
When we discussed the issue previously at Question Time, the Minister told us she was satisfied with the assurances given to her by the director general of FÁS and by senior management. Is she still satisfied with the assurances she was given by them in June or, in light of her recent announcement, has her view changed? What caused that change of view?
There is nothing to lead me to believe the situation is otherwise. The overall review of the activities of FÁS is very important and commenced in the summer of this year. I am very anxious that review takes place in the context of deciding what the priorities of such a large organisation should be. Our view is the priorities must be on upskilling and supporting those who have found themselves out of work. However, in the overall context, the review of the workings of FÁS is taking place currently.
On the other issue, it is important that if the Deputy has particular concerns he discusses them with me and I am available in this regard. Neither I nor any of my colleagues will stand over the misappropriation of funds in any organisation and will work to the best of our ability to ensure this does not happen. When issues are raised, they will be investigated thoroughly. I do not want to pre-empt the outcome of the Comptroller and Auditor General's report, but if there are issues to be addressed, I will wholeheartedly address them. FÁS has indicated it will do the same.
What are the terms of reference for the inquiry?
I have not decided on the terms of reference. The Comptroller and Auditor General is anxious to await the discussions in the House. He would like to consider the discussions of the Committee of Public Accounts before we bring the terms of reference to a finality.
112 Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the steps she is taking to stem the number of job losses, in view of the fact that the numbers on the live register have increased by more than 70,000 in little more than 12 months; if she will provide new training opportunities for those who have lost their jobs; if she will encourage the creation of new employment opportunities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31094/08]
113 Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the steps she is taking to address the challenges within the labour market as highlighted by the quarterly national household survey; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31355/08]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 112 and 113 together.
The live register is not designed to measure unemployment. It includes part-time, seasonal and casual workers entitled to unemployment benefit. The total number of people recorded on the live register for August 2008 is 247,384, showing an increase of about 73,000 in the 12-month period.
Employment and unemployment are measured by the quarterly national household survey, QNHS, and published by the Central Statistics Office. In the second quarter of 2008, the most recent quarter for which data is available, employment has increased by 6,900 over 12 months to a current total of 2,108,500. Unemployment increased by 15,200 in the same period to 115,500. The unemployment rate was 5.2%, which compares favourably to the EU 27 members' average unemployment rate of 6.8%.
While the level of employment growth is disappointing, the fall in employment in the construction sector in the past year is a major factor. The recent easing of employment growth comes after many years of extraordinary growth in the labour force and employment, which could not have lasted indefinitely. Since the second quarter of 2005, employment has grown by 176,900 with unemployment increasing by only 29,000 in the same period. It is generally accepted that the rate of growth in the economy and in employment experienced over the past few years could not continue.
FÁS, as the national training and employment authority, is providing a range of proactive job-related services, supports and programmes, to assist individuals to return to the labour market.
As regards the economic situation and the impact on the labour market, the focus is now on flexibility in the delivery of employment and training programmes so those who are affected by the slowdown and by unemployment can be assisted appropriately and in good time.
FÁS and the Department of Social and Family Affairs are working together to respond quickly to the rising live register numbers. For example, they have agreed that redundant workers will be referred immediately to FÁS rather than wait for three months on the live register as was previously the case. FÁS has also established a training fund to enable a speedy response to identified re-training needs for low skilled and redundant craft workers. Alongside the local employment services provided by area based partnerships, FÁS is currently gearing up its employment services to provide increased capacity for expected increased referrals from the live register. FÁS will be providing a range of certified short, flexible and modular programmes designed to upskill redundant workers so they can enhance their prospects of securing employment. A number of programmes are already in place and the frequency and range of these will be expanded over the coming months. A range of actions is being implemented by FÁS for those affected by the construction slowdown, including a focus on providing retraining opportunities for redundant construction workers in emerging areas within the construction sector. This will include retraining in the following — the installation of sustainable technologies, environmental activity and compliance and regulatory work. FÁS will also assist individuals in any way it can to seek employment in construction in other EU countries. FÁS has held a European construction jobs fair for employers from other EU countries.
Discussions concerning the 2009 budget are ongoing. The budget for FÁS is agreed on the basis of detailed discussions between FÁS, my Department and the Department of Finance in the context of the annual Estimates process and will be announced on budget day. My Department is commencing a review of the labour market programmes, including training programmes, that it funds. The review will examine these programmes in terms of efficiency and effectiveness and will draw conclusions about the adequacy and balance of resources in the context of current and future labour market policy challenges taking into account the recommendations of the national skills strategy.
The enterprise development agencies of my Department, including IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland, are working to ensure that we continue to grow the economy and jobs even in the current more challenging environment. The pipeline of new business for which IDA Ireland is competing is as strong as at any time in recent years. To facilitate this we need to ensure that our competitiveness is sustained into the future.
I ask Members to ensure their mobile telephones are switched off and not simply on silent mode.
I do not know whether I am living on the same planet as the Government and the Minister of State. This Government is imbued with inertia, as illustrated by the response I received today, which can be best described as lethargic and limp. Is the Minister of State trying to tell me that the lists of people who have lost jobs in Waterford, Cappoquin, Tipperary, Tullamore, Cork and Edenderry are figments of my imagination? I am aware that projects are in the pipeline, including one announced by the Minister in Athlone, but these have been under development for the past two years. They did not turn up last night.
The Government is aware that unemployment levels have increased significantly. The HSE is reported to be about to shed 1,800 jobs. Company liquidations rose by 71% during the first half of the year. In August, 247,384 people were on the live register, which represents an increase of 73,178 on the figure for August 2007, 65,935 on the beginning of the year and 45,628 since the election of Deputy Cowen as Taoiseach.
Is the Minister of State aware that the county enterprise boards, which have been an important stimulant for the economy at the micro level, have not had been able to spend one shilling in capital funding since April? Is it not time to expand the remit of the boards to fill the gap between Enterprise Ireland's activities and what the boards are permitted to do? Let us have some innovation rather than sterility.
If the Government wants to take positive action, why can it not redirect the construction sector it loves so well by bringing forward a major schools building programme? This would give employment to those who lose their jobs in construction, provide much needed accommodation for the 40,000 children currently housed in prefabs and allow the State to offer softer tender prices and better value for money. Why not proceed with a national insulation scheme? The Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Deputy Ryan, believes such a scheme is already in place. Talk about living in an ivory tower; the moment he gets off his bicycle he forgets where he is going.
The country's county councils do not even have a shilling to pay disabled person grants for mobility and housing adaptation. Small construction companies could focus on this type of project, thereby creating employment. These grants also provided important comforts to elderly people by allowing them to stay in their own homes.
Why is the IDA trying to sell lands which it bought in 1973 at the current market value to local authorities which want to develop incubator units that would stimulate the economy?
The Minister of State should get on the road with new ideas and new innovation because that is what we need. The Government is too apathetic and complacent. Anybody can steer a ship on a calm sea but the mark of greatness is steering it through rough waters. The Government has failed that test miserably.
The Deputy asked a number of questions and I will try to deal with the issues of substance.
They are all substantive. I will take no snide comments from the Government benches. I deal with real people.
The Deputy is a man of substance himself.
I always stood for what I believed in.
So do we.
I admire that in the Deputy.
I may disagree with that.
The quarterly national household survey, which is published by the Central Statistics Office, compiles figures for people who are unemployed. The live register by itself is not as accurate because the people reported may seek benefits as casual or seasonal workers.
They are all workers.
In regard to the IDA and the pipeline, the Deputy should not dismiss the challenges that exist——
I am not dismissing them.
——and the competition in the global market for foreign direct investment. We are competitive with other countries in terms of a flexible workforce, low corporation taxes and highly educated third-level graduates and Ireland is actively pursuing direct investment.
For fear that the Deputy takes these matters for granted, it is important that we set out the success of IDA Ireland rather than talk ourselves down. Zimmer Holdings, a global leader in medical devices, is establishing a new €88 million manufacturing operations base in Shannon, County Clare and is expected to create 250 jobs. This is a collaborative effort between IDA Ireland and Shannon Development. Unum is establishing a strategic software centre in Carlow town with the support of IDA Ireland. This investment will create up to 200 high level positions. Citco fund services is to expand its Cork city hedge fund administrative operations, which will create 150 jobs over the next three years. Ely Lilly is to invest up to €400 million in a multi-phase programme to establish a bio-pharmaceutical development and manufacturing facility in Kinsale. This investment will bring up to 200 jobs over the next five years. Genzyme, a leading global biotechnology company, is to invest €130 million at its Irish operations plant in Waterford. This investment will create 170 highly skilled positions and significantly increase the manufacturing capacity of the facility over the next three years. It is important that we outline the success of the IDA in actively encouraging FDI.
When Ministers go abroad, we actively sell Ireland as a place that is open and flexible, with the capacity to receive direct investment.
The Minister of State, Deputy McGuinness, has met representatives of Enterprise Ireland and the county enterprise boards. At present, 56 community enterprise applications are being assessed, which is a substantial number.
How many of them can get money?
I wish to focus on the quarterly national household study to which the Minister of State referred. The study has revealed an increase of 6,900 in employment over the past 12 months. However, if the figures are studied in detail, the number of Irish nationals in employment has dropped by 14,800, while employment of non-Irish nationals has increased by 21,500. Is the Minister aware that, at present, non-nationals are out-competing Irish nationals in the employment sector? In manufacturing, for example, there is a 12.6% differential between Irish and non-Irish employment rates. The figure is 12.4% for the wholesale and retail sector and, amazingly, in the construction sector the differential is 12.8%. Part of this is a result of immigrants improving their language skills and moving up the value chain within employment. That is a positive element in our economy. However, there are underlying concerns that must be addressed.
Does the Government have plans to examine those underlying trends and carry out an investigation into the reason for them? Is it the case, for example, that Irish people are not applying for those jobs or are they not getting the jobs for one reason or other, perhaps because they do not have the appropriate skills? Is it the case that the jobs are being created in parts of the country that do not suit the Irish workforce — the migrant workforce is more flexible in moving around the country — or is it due to the work patterns available? It is critical that this trend is examined. We must ensure that indigenous employees can compete effectively for those jobs. As migrants move up the value chain due to their improving language skills and qualifications, it is important that we ensure Irish workers actively compete for employment.
Some years ago the Government — the Irish people endorsed the decision subsequently in a general election — opened up our labour market. Is the Deputy implying that we should have a green card system for other EU citizens to work here or vice versa?
I am asking a question.
In the event of an Irish person wishing to work in another European country, should there be stipulations and regulations on their access to that labour market?
Is the Minister afraid to answer the question?
This is an integral part of the EU. With regard to immigrants to this country, employers are obliged to comply with employment law. Every employee is entitled to a minimum wage. Where there are employment regulation orders, EROs, or registered employment agreements, REAs, the employer is obliged to pay the rate that is struck and lodged before the Labour Court. If there is exploitation, it is an offence under labour law. We have increased the number of labour inspectors and established the National Employment Rights Authority to ensure that workers, regardless of whether they are Irish or non-nationals, receive the going rates of the labour market as lodged before the Labour Court either in the REAs or EROs. We would be concerned if there was exploitation of any individual.
With regard to students, the Government would obviously be concerned if the primary purpose of students coming to this country was not to learn a language but to work. We are conscious of this issue and examining it very seriously.
Will the Minister carry out an investigation?
An investigation is not needed; what is needed is action, and there will be plenty of that from this side of the House.
114 Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if a speech (details supplied) reflected her views; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31095/08]
I understand that the remarks to which the Deputy refers are those concerning reform of the public sector contained in the speech delivered by my colleague on 12 September. The Minister of State, Deputy John McGuinness, has made it clear that the remarks as delivered reflected his own personal views. The views expressed are some of many sets of views as to how the public sector should be conducting its business on behalf of the taxpayer in 2008 and beyond.
The Government has listened to views from all sides of public sector reform debate and decided on a course of action that involved asking the OECD to undertake a review of the Irish public sector. The OECD Report on Public Sector Reform, which was launched in April of this year, contains a set of key recommendations that we have committed to implement. We have established a task force, whose membership includes respected figures from the private sector, to drive this agenda and I, together with my colleagues in government, will not be found wanting should difficult decisions on reform be required.
It is my view and experience that there are many excellent people working within the public service, many of whom receive modest salaries in return for a lifetime of service to the public. That said, real problems exist. There is a need for more flexibility in the delivery of services to the public, much greater efficiency and better value for money and for further modernisation of systems and working practices. The OECD's report reflects my views. It recognises the value of the extensive reform efforts undertaken to date in customer service, e-Government, human resources, financial management and better regulation. Implementation of the quality customer service programme has brought about improvements visible to citizens. The performance management development system, PMDS, has resulted in better functioning individual organisations.
Notwithstanding these improvements and reforms, the OECD clearly identified the challenges that remain. It indicates that if we can better sequence future reforms, we can further improve performance and service delivery and achieve greater efficiencies. Furthermore, many of the reform initiatives we have introduced to date have focused largely on the Civil Service, which represents only one tenth of the public sector, as opposed to the broader public service. The public sector needs continuously to review its systems, processes and procedures to ensure that it is responsive and efficient and that it provides high quality, value for money services. In other words, citizens need to be sure that the public service will deliver the services they expect when, where and as needed.
The OECD's message is clear, as is mine. We must put the public at the centre of our public services. That is our ambition in government and it is at the core of how we are approaching the process of public sector reform.
It is a shameful and broad-brushed attack on the Civil Service and public service. The majority of public servants are decent, hard working people, some of whom are on pitifully low wages and struggling to survive. Clerical officers are an example. Of course, there is an urgent need for public service reform. Everybody knows that and public and civil servants accept it. However, while this slash and burn approach might garner some kudos for the Minister in the right wing press and among right wing commentators, it contributes nothing to the debate about public sector reform.
Many civil servants are stretched to their limits. Does the Minister realise that the Department of Social and Family Affairs is struggling to cope with the collapse in employment and the growth in the live register to the extent that there are 38,000 applications for unemployment benefit still to be processed? The Department does not have enough personnel. I have some specific questions for the Minister. Will she outline what changes she has made in the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment since she took office? Does she agree with the Minister of State's remarks and do they apply to her Department? Is she satisfied that each of the agencies under her remit are, first, value for money; second, being run effectively and, third, well managed? If so, is the Minister of State, Deputy McGuinness, simply looking for favourable headlines? Has the Minister of State's speech been discussed at the Department's internal management meetings?
Is the Minister of State talking about cutting the home help service, families' front-line nursing services, the national educational psychological service or the number of local authority workers, who have already been slashed with the 3% payroll cuts? A number of those workers will be gone and the public will soon realise it when services will no longer be available. Is the Minister talking about cutting the number of gardaí?
The Minister's party has been in government since 1997. What tangible changes have been implemented since then? If there have been changes, about what is the Minister of State complaining? If there have not been practical changes, why not?
There are 49 seconds for the Minister to reply.
That is efficiency. Some of the Deputy's questions were addressed to me in my role as Tánaiste as opposed to my role as Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment. It is important that there is balance in this area.
I hope I am the balance.
The Deputy is the counter-balance.
My experience in the pay talks categorically shows there is an attitudinal change by employers, unions, politicians and the people who work in the public service. We must deal with productivity and flexibility issues; that is the only way services can be provided. There is an acceptance of that. It is hoped that, on the basis of discussions by the unions and employers, we will have agreement on the pay talks, although I do not wish to pre-empt them.
As regards the agencies and changes within the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, I have met many of the people who work for me and with me. I agree with the Deputy, as I stated in my reply, that the work of many people in the public service goes well beyond the financial retribution they are paid because they are part of the public service. Equated to this is a need to ensure flexibility and change.
There is an old saying that one should never ask somebody to do something one would not do oneself. I will be working with officials in my Department to ensure we are receiving value for money, are flexible and are changing and evolving. Reform is about evolving. The Deputy will be aware that the Taoiseach is, as are all Members, committed to public service reform. It is in the context outlined that my Department and agencies will participate in this reform.
The Deputy will be aware that all agencies and their work are to be reviewed prior to the budget. I have views on the matter and they will be expressed by the Minister for Finance in due course.
I will allow a brief supplementary question from Deputy Penrose.
"Do unto others what you would do unto yourself" — one of the first actions of the Taoiseach was the creation of three new posts of Minister of State.
No, what I said was that one should never ask somebody to do something one would not do oneself.
Let us deal with that issue here and the cost it imposes.
I am providing value for money.
Does the Minister agree with the statement made by the Minister of State, Deputy John McGuinness? If so, what practical actions will she take? If the Minister does not agree with him, she should say so.
I would like to know if it is the position of the leading party in Government that the public service is responsible for the condition of the economy.
A final brief reply from the Minister.
It is hard to answer that question. At the end of the day, the Deputy knows full well that is not the situation. With all due respect, I do not have the time to get into the complexities of why we are experiencing economic difficulties.
It is important to say that the views expressed are my personal views, some of which have been reflected by people outside and within this House. In my view we need public sector reform. Those within the public sector agree we need that reform and are more than happy to work towards achieving it. Arising from the OECD recommendations, we will be taking action, unpalatable or otherwise.
Deputy Penrose will agree that there are those within the public sector who are wrongly vilified and who do not get the support they need for the work they do. We need to take a balanced approach to this issue. As I stated earlier, it is about taking people along, working with them and showing the political leadership to allow that to happen. That is the format on which this will done.
115 Deputy Damien English asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment her views on introducing a new type of work scheme for skilled workers in receipt of social welfare; if there is a potential for linking in new work schemes with current or planned capital infrastructure projects; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31356/08]
FÁS as an agency of my Department operates two employment schemes, community employment and job initiative.
Community employment is an active labour market programme designed to provide eligible long-term unemployed people and other disadvantaged persons with an opportunity to engage in useful work within their communities on a fixed term basis. The programme helps unemployed people to progress to the open labour market by breaking their experience of unemployment through a return to work routine and assists them in enhancing-developing their technical and personal skills.
The job initiative programme provides full-time employment for people who are 35 years of age or over, unemployed for five or more years and in receipt of social welfare payments during that period. The main purpose of the programme is to assist long-term unemployed people to prepare for work opportunities by providing participants with work experience, training and development opportunities.
There are no plans to create another employment programme. However, FÁS is working to quickly respond to the changing employment market. In regard to the construction sector, where we have witnessed a substantial number of redundancies during the past 12 months, the Government will continue to work with all of the relevant stakeholders to ensure timely and satisfactory responses to the adjustments taking place. This will include the continued provision of a range of training opportunities for those who lose their jobs in the construction sector. FÁS will also provide retraining to redundant workers in emerging areas of the construction sector which are experiencing growth such as environmental related activity; compliance and regulatory related work; waste management activity; and sustainable energy systems installation. The Government will also continue to promote access for mobile workers to construction jobs elsewhere in the EU.
As regards planned capital infrastructure projects, I would expect that it would be open to unemployed workers to apply for any vacant positions with the relevant contractors.
I cannot thank the Minister of State for his reply as it is not the reply I wanted to hear. I am shocked that there are no new initiatives in this area. The first part of the reply referred to schemes already in place. I and everybody else knows what schemes are already in place. I am disappointed with the Minister of State's response to this issue which I have raised at committee level, with FÁS and with other agencies. I am asking that the Minister and Ministers of State use their imagination — this is not rocket science — and come up schemes that will match up across various Departments unemployed, well-skilled people with jobs. How hard can that be? Doing so would be more or less cost neutral given the high cost, social and financial, of unemployment.
There is much work to be done in our communities. Many train stations, bus stations and schools are in disrepair and in need of serious maintenance. There is an endless amount of work that could be done during these bad times. This would ensure those who want to work get work. All I am asking is that people use their imaginations. I hope I will hear within the next month or so that the Department has some new ideas in this regard. I was told by FÁS officials at a committee meeting that they would look into this but they had no answers for me some two months later. More than 70,000 or 80,000 people have joined the dole queues. These people are skilled and available to work. What plans are there to match up these people with jobs? I accept a great deal is being done in respect of training.
I hope that the Minister of State can tell me that he and his colleagues are prepared to work during the next couple of months on some new ideas in respect of unemployment relief schemes. Let us try to match up people with work that needs to be done. There are dark times ahead and we should try to prepare for them.
I thank the Deputy for his suggestions. It is important to stress again that FÁS, because of the downturn in the construction industry in particular, is actively engaged in meeting people who have been, unfortunately, made redundant and providing them with a personal work programme to assist them in returning to employment. All of the suggestions made must be considered in the context of the forthcoming budget.
The Government is open to new ideas and if Deputy English has any, he should put them forward for consideration.
I have no problem putting forward ideas and I will do so. I have set them out for the Minister of State. Many people are awaiting the commencement of work under the disabled persons and essential repairs grants schemes, schools are awaiting assistance under the summer work schemes and many of our train stations and bus stations are in need of serious repair. I have raised this issue at committee level where we are supposed to do good work on a cross-party basis. Why can we not match up, through the local authorities and FÁS, unemployed people with work in these areas. I accept what is required is a type of voluntary scheme but it must be an attractive one. Surely, it would not be that hard to do this.
I raised this issue with the Department more than a month ago. I will forward detailed plans in this regard if the Minister of State so wishes. I hope the Minister of State can tell me that he and his colleagues have an open mind on this issue. The community employment scheme deals with long-term unemployed people and does not suit everybody. I am asking for a new scheme similar to those in operation in other countries and in Northern Ireland. All I am asking is that we try something.
I must reiterate that all issues are being considered in the context of the forthcoming budget.
They do not seem to be.
Deputy English should await the announcement of the budget on 14 October in this regard.
The Minister of State said there are no plans to introduce a new scheme.
Not at the moment.
