James Bannon (Fine Gael)

—when I walk out of this House where people are lying on the streets and in alleyways under blankets, coats etc.? It is a shame on any Government that allows this to happen in 2002. We have already witnessed cuts in community employment schemes and thousands of places are being axed from the back-to-work programme which assists the long-term unemployed to return to employment.

The number of people out of work in County Longford is very evident. The rate of unemployment there is probably higher than anywhere else in the entire country. We have been let down time and again by this Government. It would be appreciated if the Minister would look at the position in County Longford and nationally.

There will be serious losses of essential services in local communities which up to now were delivered by community employment schemes. The proposal to extend the medical card scheme to those on very low incomes has been abandoned. Consumer prices, hospital charges, college fees, television licence fees and ESB charges have all been increased substantially since the election. The economy faces a serious downturn. Redundancies are announced on a regular basis and alternative employment is difficult to find. The recent budget has failed to address the substantial poverty and social exclusion which still persists. The Government must safeguard the quality of life for those reliant on social welfare but this was not evident in the budget.