asked the Minister for Labour the number of redundancies in the Limerick-Shannon region during the past eight months.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Limerick/Shannon Redundancies.
19.
In the eight months ended 31st March, 1975 employers in the Limerick/Shannon region notified 1,245 redundancies as being qualified for payments under the Redundancy Payments Acts.
Have the Government any plans to give alternative employment to all those who have lost their jobs within a short period?
The Government's capital programme has been designed to offset unemployment brought about largely as a result of external adverse economic conditions and we are continuing that programme.
Is the Minister aware that Senator Michael Mullen has accused the Government of being complacent regarding job replacement?
We may not refer to Members of the other House.
I think the record speaks for itself.
It is a living disgrace. What is going on?
Question No. 20, Deputy Daly.
People are unemployed and no effort whatever is being made to provide jobs for them.
(Interruptions.)
Arising out of what the Minister said in reply to the supplementary question, would he tell the House precisely what the Government are doing to limit redundancy and to give alternative employment to the 1,245 people who became redundant in the last few months and to the 7,500 people who are now registered as unemployed in Limerick city and county—105 per cent more than this time last year?
I understand that the Deputy has to make sounds here but he is as well aware as I am of the international situation and the economic recession which the world is going through and Limerick cannot be exempt from the effects of that international recession. The Government are doing everything in their power to maintain employment at the highest possible level.
They are doing damn all and the Minister knows that.
Can the Minister explain then why every other EEC country except Britain and possibly Italy are overcoming their problems much more readily and effectively than we are?
The Deputy must be looking at different figures from what I am looking at.
I am looking at the facts.
Question No.20.
A Cheann Comhairle——
Please, Deputy.
The firm referred to by the Deputy——
When the Ceann Comhairle calls a question and other Deputies are on their feet asking supplementary questions it is not equitable, or at least it is not in accordance with the dignity of the House that a Minister should begin reading the answer to the next question. It indicates to me a complete lack of interest and lack of knowledge of the subject on the part of the Minister concerned.
A final supplementary question from Deputy Fitzgerald.
I want to ask the Minister a supplementary question.
This is a very important question because it refers not only to Limerick but the same situation exists everywhere at the present time.
It is a Limerick question and I cannot allow the Deputy to extend it.
I accept that but arising from the Minister's reply may I ask what positive steps his Department have taken to find replacement jobs for those redundant in the Limerick area and what further steps they intend taking in regard to the workers we understand will become redundant in the next four to eight weeks in that area?
The manpower service is doing everything in its power to put those at present redundant into alternative jobs. It is obvious that with an increase in unemployment such as there has been, we shall not be uniformly successful in all cases but we are continuing with that effort. I would again remind Deputies that the Government are doing their utmost to preserve employment at home in the face of adverse economic conditions. The Industrial Development Authority have been provided with more money than ever before and we have provided more money for housing than ever before——
Did you ever hear of inflation?
All those measures, the increase of 41 per cent in the money available to the IDA, the investment in housing of £100 million, 30 per cent above anything provided before, are all concrete evidence of this Government's determination to counteract the present recession here at home. We do not pretend that there are no problems; there are, as there are in every country in the European Community.
Arising out of the reply and its broadening and its reference to the building industry——
The Deputy sought the broadening.
——will he accept that the employment situation in the building industry at the end of January was down 4,061 on that time last year? In view of that, how can he tell us that the Government were providing extra money? It is jobs we are talking about and the Minister for Labour has done nothing to provide jobs nor have his Government.
The Deputy is making a speech.
The Deputy is probably aware of the connection between money and jobs. I have said we provided the money——
I am sure the Minister is equally aware of the 4,000 jobs that have been lost in the building industry in the last 12 months.
Would the Minister, who has special responsibility in this regard, convince his fellow members in the Cabinet that it is their duty to concentrate on this matter now rather than on other issues——
There is no need to remind members of the Cabinet of the seriousness of the situation.
I am calling Question No.20.