asked the Taoiseach if in view of the continued high rate of unemployment, redundancies and the pessimistic employment forecast by the IDA, the Government have any plans to deal effectively with the problem of unemployment.
50.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Unemployment Problem.
49.
asked the Taoiseach if he is aware of the serious increase in unemployment figures, particularly in the industrial sector; and the steps he proposes taking to remedy this situation.
51.
asked the Taoiseach if he is aware of the growing unemployment in County Mayo; and the steps he proposes taking to remedy this situation.
52.
asked the Taoiseach if he will take immediate steps to provide employment in County Mayo in view of the decrease in population in the county of 14,000 persons in the last ten years.
65.
asked the Taoiseach the total number unemployed at 30th September, 1972; and the reasons for such number being unable to obtain employment.
67.
asked the Taoiseach the numbers unemployed on the 30th September in 1970, 1971 and 1972; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 49 to 52, 65 and 67 together.
The live register total as on the 29th September, 1972, was 66,375; on the corresponding dates in 1971 and 1970, the totals were 56,537 and 58,999, respectively.
The rate of job loss in industry over the last year was high, resulting in a net job loss in industry of 4,000. This was in spite of the creation of 7,700 new jobs in grant-aided industry. The contributing factors include (a) the cyclical trade recession affecting international economies last year, (b) the consolidation of Irish industry in preparation for Common Market conditions and (c) wage-cost inflation.
The Government have authorised the Industrial Development Authority to take immediate steps to increase their promotional efforts with a view to achieving their job creation targets.
A disappointing tourist season has contributed to the increase in the live register figures. Another factor has been a slow-down in the rate of growth in non-residential construction. With this in mind the Government recently increased public capital programme expenditures with a high building and construction content by £4.8 million. This increase raised the total of the 1972-73 public capital programme to £256 million or £42 million more than expenditure in 1971-72.
As far as Mayo is concerned, that county is eligible to participate in the wide range of measures of particular benefit to the western counties.
The Taoiseach talks about an increase in capital investment. Can he tell us what future there is for those who have been laid off recently in woollen factories and in the mines? Surely when he talks about an increase in capital investment he does not suggest that those who have been working for such a long time in particular jobs will all become builders labourers overnight. I am sure the Taoiseach is concerned, but surely he should show greater concern for the abnormal unemployment at this time of the year, the abnormal redundancies, and the dismal forecasts by the Industry Development Authority. The Taoiseach and his Ministers have an obligation to say in specific terms what the future is for these people who have been laid off and who find themselves out of jobs at present.
As the Deputy is aware, both industries to which he referred have suffered recessions in recent years. That is not to say, however, that the Government are not concerned about those whose jobs are in jeopardy or those who have lost their jobs by reason of that recession. So far as the woollen industry is concerned that recession has been world-wide, as the Deputy is aware.
Quite recently the Minister for Industry and Commerce has been in touch with the woollen and worsted manufacturers and, indeed, with their unions to see in what way any possible redundancy might be offset. I can assure the Deputy that real and urgent negotiations are in train in that regard. In fact, I know that in some areas— in one at least—it is likely that a number of new job opportunities—and not only as builders labourers—will become available by reason of grant-aided industries coming into the areas. This will help to offset, if not more than offset, any loss of employment in a certain woollen and worsted factory.
In the case of the mines, as the Deputy is aware, the Government assisted considerably in the maintenance of the Ballingarry Mines up to the point when it was seen that it was only sending good money after bad and that there was no viable future for these mines.
Why does the advertisement say that there is a ready market for the product? Does it not seem ludicrous to state that in the light of what the Taoiseach has said?
That does not mean that the mine is viable if there is a ready market for the product. Viability of a mine means that not only costs of production but also costs of investment in development—and development means seeking further veins and further strains—would be viable as well.
Is the Taoiseach fully aware of this decline in population in Mayo and is he aware that this means that the entire population of Ballina and Castlebar, the two main towns in our county, 14,000 people, have been involved since 1962? What action does he propose to take with a view to creating employment there to stop this vast movement of people, this vast emigration?
I have indicated on a number of occasions here the wide range of facilities and the wide range of inducements which are available for the promotion of employment in western areas. These are still available. I should like to refer the Deputy again to the fact that now, under the regional policy of the European Economic Community, there will be better opportunities for employment in these areas.
One final question.
I am calling Question No. 53. We have to move on.
The Taoiseach is aware, of course, that over the past eight or ten years speeches have been made by various Ministers about retraining and replacement in anticipation of the preparations necessary for entry to the EEC. The CIO warned that there would be redundancies in very many industries and particularly in the woollen and worsted industry. What have the Government done in the past five, six or seven years to ensure that these people, who were then told that some of them would become redundant, would get jobs? The Taoiseach knows full well that——
This is a long speech.
If the Deputy is asking what we have done I will tell him very quickly. So far as retraining is concerned we set up AnCO. We increased the number of centres where retraining is made available by AnCO. This has contributed immeasurably to the offsetting of redundancy and to the making available of alternative employment. We increased the amount of the industrial grants almost astronomically compared with what it was in the five year period to which the Deputy referred. It is now millions and millions of pounds more than it was before. We will continue to make available sufficient funds to ensure that no worthwhile project will fail to start up here for want of funds.
With all that, there has been no improvement.
What has been done costs money.
Is the Taoiseach aware that the position in Mayo is further aggravated by reason of the fact that there have been redundancies in some old established industries due to a fall in their export business and, to a certain extent, perhaps, to a fall in their local sales? The position is further aggravated by reason of the fact that grants for roadworks are curtailed. Would the Taoiseach think it worthwhile to make more money available for schemes to provide employment for our people?
I can assure the Deputy that all the money that can possibly be devoted to creating employment in the west is being provided. The purse is not limitless, as the Deputy is aware.
What about draining the Shannon?