asked the Taoiseach if he is aware of the growing concern over the present high level of unemployment because of redundancies in Irish industries; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
9.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Industrial Redundancies.
8.
andMr. G. Lynch asked the Taoiseach if, in view of the projected serious unemployment position during the coming winter, because of redundancies in Irish industries, he will detail what steps are being taken by the Government to deal with the problem.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 8 and 9 together.
A number of factors have influenced the present level of unemployment. A world-wide recession in certain industries, particularly textiles, has had repercussions on Irish firms. The slowdown in demand in the United States has adversely affected some firms whose production is largely geared to that market. The sluggish trend in the British economy has also had repercussions here. So far as domestic factors are concerned, the rise in industrial costs resulting from income increases which outpaced productivity hampered competitiveness in some areas. All these factors have contributed to the redundancies position.
I am aware that the increase in the rate of redundancies in the present year is causing concern and I have arranged to meet representatives of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions to discuss the position. The Government are most anxious to reverse the present trend and the Deputies will be aware of the determined efforts already being made to provide new employment under the industrial development programmes and of the various manpower policy measures such as retraining, placement and resettlement which are in operation and are being expanded as fast as possible.
For further information on the steps being taken by the Government to deal with unemployment, I would ask the Deputies to await a statement on the economic situation which will be made later today by the Minister for Finance.
Can the Taoiseach give the number of redundancies to-date this year?
I can give the total for the first nine months—5,715.
Is that more than double for the first nine months of last year?
No.
About double.
Is it nearly double?
No. I do not have the nine-month period, I have the figure for the full period for 1970——
What was last year's figure? We can do the multiplication ourselves.
——which was 3,896.
It is double last year for nine months.
No, it is not double.
(Interruptions.)
Just hold your "whisht" for about half an hour and you will hear the facts.
The Minister for Labour said redundancies were running at about double the rate of last year but the Taoiseach seems to differ with him.
I have given the figures as I have them here. The figures for the first nine months of this year are 5,715 and the total for 1970 was 3,896.
Could the Taoiseach tell us what the unemployment rate is?
I am not a travelling statistician——
Shall I tell the Taoiseach? It is nearly 7 per cent, is it not?
Oh, is that what the Deputy means. I thought it was the actual numbers the Deputy wanted. It is nearly 7 per cent, yes.
It is nearly 7 per cent?
It is something approaching 7 per cent.
Unusually high?
Unusually high, unfortunately.
About the worst in Europe with some exceptions?
No, far from it.
It is not far from it.
With the exception of Northern Ireland.