andMr. Donnellan asked the Minister for Labour if he is aware that there are many boys and girls with leaving certificates unable to obtain suitable permanent employment in this country; and what plans he has formulated to absorb the increasing number of successful leaving certificate students who will be looking for employment in the future as a result of the free education scheme.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Employment Prospects for Leaving Certificate Holders.
58.
One of the principal aims of Government policy is to promote economic development and provide increased employment; and facilities to these ends are available through services administered by the economic Departments and other State agencies.
As far as the Department of Labour is concerned, the Employment Service has the function of putting persons seeking employment in touch with employers. Proposals for improving this service are under active consideration.
My Department also provides information on careers for the guidance of school-leavers and others. So far, leaflets on 140 different occupations have been published.
Is the Minister aware that in the latest statement issued on this subject, the Drogheda manpower report, it was noted that there was a surplus of leaving certificate students in the country who have not been able to get permanent employment and it was also noted that economic growth will not solve this problem in the future with the ever-increasing number of students coming on the market? Is there any forward thinking or planning on this matter to place those people in suitable employment? Would the Minister not consider introducing some method whereby these people could be trained to fill the shortages which exist in regard to technically skilled people? There should be a plan to train these people to fill such vacancies.
The Deputy is aware that the selection of school courses and the type of school is constitutionally preserved as a freedom of the parent and there is no direction given in regard to courses or the particular type of school. The curricula have been so arranged that a wide variety of subjects will be available to the leaving certificate student and there will be the technical leaving certificate also. The Minister for Education will have guidance through the whole school career of students so that students will be advised according to their best lines of aptitude and it should be possible, if a student selects the proper subjects, that at the end of his schooling, he will be prepared for the type of employment most likely to arise in the future. This is a more likely development than the possibility of economically producing enough jobs for everyone who does the academic leaving certificate, whether he does well or otherwise. There is also An Chomhairle Oiliúna which has all the necessary power from this House to provide training for people.
Is the Minister aware that there are 70,000 fewer people at work today compared with ten years ago?
That is a separate question.
Is there any plan for future employment for those who are availing of higher education at present? Is there any plan to put them into jobs because there is little use in having education if they cannot get jobs?
I would explain it if I thought the Deputy would understand it.