asked the Minister for Labour the action the Government intend to take to provide work for our people, especially this year's school leavers.
Written Answers. - Job Creation
490.
The main purpose of Government employment policy is to provide sufficient permanent full-time jobs to cater for all those seeking work, including young people. Creating suitable economic conditions for employment-giving activity is an important objective of the Government's forthcoming National Economic Plan.
Preparation of the plan is at an advanced stage and, when finalised, it will provide a coherent framework for economic development over the next three to four years. It will put forward policies to achieve the maximum increase in sustainable employment, a reduction in the rate of inflation, a reduction in our internal budget deficit and external payments deficit and an improvement in social equity, especially in the area of taxation.
The Government policies and programmes directed towards providing employment for our people include:
—general economic and budgetary measures which have, inter alia, the objective of generating employment. For instance, provision was made in the budget this year for an additional investment of £50 million in building and construction projects which will contribute to a net improvement in the employment situation.
—grants and incentives provided by development bodies such as the Industrial Development Authority, SFADCo and Údarás na Gaeltachta.
In addition to the main job creation measures a wide range of ancillary schemes and measures exist which are aimed either solely at young people and/or which benefit mainly young people. The employment incentive scheme operated by the Department of Labour has as its objective expansion of employment through the payment of premiums to employers to encourage them to recruit additional unemployed workers and young persons into full-time permanent employment. The Youth Employment Agency established in March of this year has been charged with responsibility for integrating and radically extending the youth employment and training schemes which exist at present under the separate auspices of a number of State agencies. The agency has set a target of involving up to 40,000 young people who are without employment for six months, in one or other of the following:
—training in AnCO and CERT;
—participation in the work experience programme;
—employment in environmental improvement schemes;
—employment in community and youth work;
—employment by voluntary, social or community organisations.
In addition the agency will undertake or sponsor a number of other activities to assist youth employment and enterprise. An Exchequer allocation of £41 million has been provided for these operations in 1982. The yield from the youth employment levy in 1983 will be substantially higher. These developments, viewed in conjunction with the introduction and expansion of pre-employment courses within the educational system and the placement and guidance services provided by the National Manpower Service, constitute a sizeable effort to assist school leavers and enhance their job prospects.