asked the Minister for Finance the progress to date on the Government's programme to provide 20,000 new jobs within twelve months involving spending (a) £30 million on building and construction to create 5,000 jobs, (b) £20 million on projects for young people, (c) £50 million on extra Gardaí, teachers and other urgent services; and if he will state in relation to each heading the amount spent to date, the amount likely to be spent in the 1977 financial year, the net additional annual cost of the programme when fully implemented, the number of jobs created to date, the number likely to be created by 31st December, 1977 and by 5th July 1978, and if the £100 million involved will be clearly distinguished in financial statements from expenditures already committed prior to 5th July, 1977.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Employment Programme.
The job-creation measures approved by the Government to date are set out in a tabular statement which, I propose, with the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, to circulate for inclusion in the Official Report.
Job-creation opportunities additional to those referred to in the tabular statement will be provided for in the Departmental expenditure estimates for 1978. I will not be in a position to supply information on these job opportunities in the detail specified by the Deputy until the estimates have been finalised and presented to the Dáil. I can assure him, however, that it is the Government's firm intention that the additional job-creation activity involved will be on a scale sufficient to ensure the achievement of the Government's target of creating 20,000 new jobs within 12 months.
I propose to identify clearly in financial statements and tables to be published in connection with the 1978 budget the provision made in expenditure allocation for job-creation activities approved by the Government since assuming office.
Following is the statement:
Job-Creation measures approved to date
|
Building and Construction (targets: £30 million expenditure and 5,000 extra jobs) |
Projects for Young People (targets: £20 million expenditure and 5,000 jobs) —see also note below |
Public Service (targets: £50 million expenditure and 10,000 jobs) |
|
|
(i) Jobs created |
4,675(a) |
3,000(d) |
3,514 |
|
(ii) Jobs filled to date |
906(b) (to end-September) |
— |
1,085 |
|
(iii) Jobs expected to be filled by 31st December, 1977 |
2,900(c) |
3,000(d)(e) |
2,550 |
|
(iv) expenditure to date |
£1.32 million(b) (to end-September) |
— |
£1.19 million |
|
(v) expected expenditure by 31st December, 1977 |
£8.73 million(c) |
£1.008 million(d)(e) |
£3.04 million |
|
(vi) estimated cost per annum of measures |
£28.4 million (total |
£1.008 million (total) |
£10.95 million |
|
cost of projects approved to date) plus £32 million per annum in respect of the cost of the increased housing grants and SDA loan and income limits. |
NOTE: Many of the additional jobs created in the public service and in the building and construction sector will benefit school leavers.
(a) includes 2,500 additional jobs attributable to increased housing grants and higher loan and income limits for SDA housing loans scheme.
(b) excludes the impact of the increased housing grants and SDA loan and income limits for which mid-year figures are not available.
(c) the figures to end-December include an estimated 1,000 extra jobs and £2.3 million additional spending attributable to increased housing grants and higher loan and income limits for SDA housing loans scheme.
(d) the Minister for Labour has announced the extension of the Employment Incentive Scheme to the Service and Building and Construction sectors which is expected to result in an additional 5,500 jobs by 24th February 1978, the closing date for application under the scheme. The estimated cost of the extension is £2.2 million approximately. It is estimated that about 3,000 of these jobs will be for young people.
(e) this figure relates to 24th February 1978 which is the closing date for applications under the scheme. Figures to end-1977 not available at present.
From which date will the 12 months be reckoned?
I would have thought 5th July, 1977.
Notwithstanding the tabular statement, will the Minister tell us the total number of jobs already created additional to those for which provision had been made by the outgoing Government?
That is a separate question.
It is the guts of the question.
The Deputy will get the guts of the question, and perhaps more than he had reckoned for, when he reads the tabular statement.
Let us have the figure, the crude total.
If that is what the Deputy wanted he should have sought it in the question.
It was sought.
It was not.
The question asked (a) the money spent on building and construction to create 5,000 jobs and (b) the projects for young people.
In relation to each heading, that is what has been given.
The Minister has been asked for two figures. Will he give us the total figure for the jobs created to date?
I have indicated that I propose to give the precise answer in the form of a tabular statement, which the Deputy has been supplied with.
We cannot pursue this exchange. I will not tolerate this any longer. I call on Deputy Barry Desmond.
Deputy Kelly can build it up as well as he is able to, but the more he builds it up the more he will be disappointed when he sees the figures.
Is there any information in the data supplied to suggest that by the end of this year 5,000 additional jobs will have been created as was clearly promised in the Fianna Fáil pre-election manifesto?
Which part of the manifesto is that?
May I remind the Minister of the repeated statements made by his party that in the year 1977 an initial 5,000 new jobs would be created?
Will the Deputy quote from or indicate the page in the manifesto on which that was stated?
The Minister should not bluster. They assured us that by the end of the calendar year 1977, 5,000 new jobs would have been created and that there would be 20,000 new jobs next year.
On which page of the manifesto is that statement?
It is blatantly evident in the manifesto.
Deputy Desmond's usual bluff.
Is there any indication——
Deputy Desmond has been on his feet for a long time. The Minister has been on his feet at the same time. If that is not disorderly I do not know what is.
Is there any information in the data supplied with the reply to this question about the 5,000 additional jobs promised in the job-creation programme of Fianna Fáil in the calendar year 1977? We should like to have some evidence of that.
As usual Deputy Desmond is chancing his arm. When challenged about the page on which this alleged promise appears he could not give it. When he sees the tabular statement he will be relieved to know that although we did not promise it we will do it.
Is the Minister aware that in his introductory speech on the Industrial Development Bill, the Minister for Industry, Commerce and Energy assured the House that 5,000 additional jobs would be created this year. Is the Minister for Finance now saying that those jobs were not promised?
I would require the Deputy to direct me precisely to what he is talking about. I cannot do it unless he does. In relation to our election manifesto with which I am thoroughly familiar—obviously Deputy Desmond is not—I cannot make a statement unless I am referred to a specific passage.
The Minister for Industry, Commerce and Energy confirmed during the debate on the Industrial Development Bill that 5,000 additional jobs would have been created by the end of the year. Is the Minister going back on that?
I do not wish to appear to be harsh, but Deputies are getting up and making statements and, as they well know, this is disorderly during Question Time.
May I ask one more question?