Irish people face the highest crèche bills in Europe. These are preventing people from entering employment. Will the Taoiseach ensure this matter is addressed as it places great financial strain on young married couples with children?

I am sure Deputy Fleming's contribution was heard loud and clear in Scartaglin. He referred to mortgage holders, variable interest rates, banks, the spring statement, small schools, tourism, apprenticeships and jobs. His contribution was a sort of spring statement in itself.

The Deputy raised important issues.

Figures from the Central Statistics Office show unemployment now stands at approximately 10%, having reached 15% only a few years ago.

The Minister of State with responsibility for training and apprenticeships received approximately 90 proposals at the end of March and these are being examined. Arising from this, he has already started a new apprenticeship course in stonemasonry, which is a very important activity in Deputy Tom Fleming's part of the country.

Almost 100,000 new jobs have been created in the past four years and we expect between 40,000 and 45,000 new jobs to be created this year and in 2016, 2017 and 2018, respectively. I hope this will bring the country back to full employment. According to the most recent figures, 1.9 million people are working which is the highest number since 2009.

The Deputy raises important issues which are central to the discussion we must have on the spring statement and the direction the country will take in the years ahead.