Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 10 Oct 2001

Vol. 541 No. 5

Written Answers. - Job Losses.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

177 Mr. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if adequate provision has been made in terms of retraining or other measures to assist those who have lost their jobs over the past six months; if she will identify the precise number of such job losses accruing from the economic downturn; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23473/01]

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

178 Mr. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if sufficient resources remain available to FÁS to enable that body continue its training and employment programmes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23474/01]

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

179 Mr. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the extent to which resources are made available for FÁS training and SE schemes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23475/01]

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

183 Mr. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the degree to which an adequate labour force exists to meet current and future requirements here; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23479/01]

Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Ms Harney):

I propose to take Questions Nos. 177 to 179, inclusive, and 183 together.

The labour market continues to perform extremely well. In the period to the second quarter 2001, the latest period for which CSO data is available, the labour force grew by 36,300 to reach a level of 1.78 million people. This includes an additional 45,800 people at work and a further fall in unemployment to 65,400. The unemployment rate has declined to 3.7%.

While there have been a number of announcements regarding redundancies in recent months, these have not as yet translated into any significant increase in unemployment. It is too early to predict in concrete terms what impact the recent tragic events in the US will have on the global economy and in turn on employment. The ESRI, in its recently published medium term review, suggested that in the event of a sharp slowdown, unemployment could double in the next two years but thereafter the economy was in a position to return to strong growth and full employment. It advised, therefore, that current medium term strategies should remain in place.

The Government has in place a comprehensive strategy to meet labour market challenges. The strategy, as described in Ireland's Employment Action Plan 2001, is aimed at mobilising labour supply from all available sources and providing the necessary education, training and lifelong learning opportunities to ensure that supply matches demand and that employed persons and those seeking employment have the required skills. This strategy remains valid and appropriate. Key elements of the policies being pursued include fiscal measures aimed at enhancing the attractiveness of taking up a job and remaining in work, measures aimed at upskilling persons in employment and those seeking work, active labour market programmes to assist unemployed disadvantaged persons in their transition to employment, placement services for job seekers and employers as well as direct intervention with persons on the live register with a view to preventing their drift into long-term unemployment.

There is a large range and scale of programmes available to assist the long-term unemployed and other disadvantaged groups in their transition to employment. These include a range of FÁS training, retraining and work experience programmes. The 2001 FÁS Estimate, at 819 million, enables FÁS to provide training and employment places for almost 100,000 people. The resources dedicated by FÁS to assist target groups are augmented through additional programme provision including the back to work allowance scheme and the vocational education and training opportunities scheme.

I am satisfied that a comprehensive strategy to meet current and future labour market challenges is being pursued to meet the labour supply and demand needs of the economy, to meet the needs of unemployed persons in the event of job losses arising from company closures and to ensure that sufficient resources are in place to deliver on the policies and actions required.