There is positive news that the number jobless has fallen by nearly 10% in Galway city and county in the past 12 months. The national trend is similar, with a decrease indicated in the recent CSO figures, bringing the unemployment rate to 11.1% from a high of over 15% when the Government took office.

By my reckoning, the national decrease in August was the largest monthly decrease since the recession began. However, there are still far too many people out of work and, as we have heard indicated, the forthcoming budget will aim to create and sustain more jobs in the next 12 months. The simple fact is that the more people return to employment, the more revenue the State takes in and the more services it can provide. Perhaps the Leader might ask the Minister for Finance to come to the House after the budget to discuss the economy generally.