asked the Minister for Labour if he will give a breakdown of the 2,886 jobs which have been lost in Limerick since 1982 when the unemployment level was 4,699; the number of young people under the age of 25, both male and female, affected by the critical unemployment level there; the action the Government has taken to alleviate this situation in Limerick; the extent to which it has used the resources of the European Social Fund and other EEC financial resources to overcome this dramatic rise in unemployment; and how the resources of the Youth Employment Agency have been deployed in Limerick.
Written Answers. - Limerick Unemployment Statistics.
332.
The figures quoted by the Deputy seem to relate to live register returns for Limerick city at the end of January 1982 and 1984. The attached tabular statements provide a classification by broad industrial group of those on the live register at the Limerick city exchange and a breakdown of the numbers under 25 years of age, both male and female, registering at the exchange, at these dates.
A major factor influencing the level of employment is the work of the industrial development agencies. The Industrial Development Authority and SFADCo continue their active promotion of the Limerick area as a centre for industrial development. In this connection a number of important new electronics firms have located in Limerick including the ELFAB Corporation, Atari, Verbatim and Wang.
As regards my own area of responsibility, my Department operates directly or through its agencies a number of national schemes which are designed to encourage and assist additional employment. As regards Limerick I would point out that over 200 persons have been recruited by employers under the employment incentive scheme since the beginning of 1983 at a cost of over £200,000. A further 750 young persons have benefited under the work experience programme during this same period at an approximate cost of £430,000. In addition 50 persons have already availed of the recently introduced enterprise allowance scheme to establish their own businesses. A further £400,000 has been allocated in the period to community projects in the Limerick region, under the grants scheme for youth employment and the Youth Employment Agency have developed four initiatives in Limerick at a cost of £258,000. Over 2,100 people have received training from AnCO in their Limerick centre and AnCO have assisted 20 separate projects under the community youth training programme. Six additional projects are due to commence shortly.
Aid from the European Social Fund to such organisations as AnCO, the Youth Employment Agency and the National Manpower Service is granted on the basis of national programmes, and figures relating to Limerick only are therefore, not available. However, ESF assistance totalling £940,330 was approved for SFADCo for 1982 and 1983 and a further £427,000 was applied for in 1984. The region has also substantially benefited from the European Regional Development Fund particularly as regards infrastructural development.
Following are the statements referred to:
Industrial Analysis of the Live Register in Limerick City on 8 January 1982 and 13 January 1984.
|
Industrial Group |
8 January 1982 |
13 January 1984 |
||||
|
Males |
Females |
Total |
Males |
Females |
Total |
|
|
Food |
252 |
65 |
317 |
425 |
109 |
534 |
|
Drink |
12 |
1 |
13 |
25 |
4 |
29 |
|
Tobacco |
— |
2 |
2 |
— |
6 |
6 |
|
Textiles |
38 |
9 |
47 |
227 |
5 |
232 |
|
Clothing |
73 |
99 |
172 |
74 |
62 |
136 |
|
Skins, Leather, Rubber, etc. |
11 |
3 |
14 |
18 |
— |
18 |
|
Woodworking and Furniture |
109 |
1 |
110 |
142 |
4 |
146 |
|
Metal Manufacture and Engineering |
358 |
301 |
659 |
677 |
363 |
1,040 |
|
Vehicles |
108 |
7 |
115 |
147 |
9 |
156 |
|
Fertilisers, Chemicals etc. |
11 |
3 |
14 |
14 |
4 |
18 |
|
Papermaking, Stationery etc. |
13 |
7 |
20 |
31 |
16 |
47 |
|
Mining and Quarrying |
7 |
1 |
8 |
22 |
— |
22 |
|
Bricks, Pottery, Glass etc. |
20 |
— |
20 |
105 |
13 |
118 |
|
Building, Contracting, Construction |
1,002 |
10 |
1,012 |
1,684 |
28 |
1,712 |
|
Gas, Water, Electricity |
24 |
1 |
25 |
134 |
2 |
136 |
|
Transport and Communication |
247 |
20 |
267 |
357 |
14 |
371 |
|
Distributive Trades |
237 |
189 |
426 |
397 |
286 |
683 |
|
Finance |
5 |
22 |
27 |
11 |
29 |
40 |
|
Public Administration |
213 |
70 |
283 |
367 |
111 |
478 |
|
Professions |
52 |
160 |
212 |
93 |
285 |
378 |
|
Personal Services |
164 |
194 |
358 |
278 |
303 |
581 |
|
Entertainment and Sports |
14 |
11 |
25 |
33 |
13 |
46 |
|
Other Industrial Services |
46 |
53 |
99 |
48 |
92 |
140 |
|
Agriculture |
175 |
6 |
181 |
189 |
24 |
213 |
|
Fishing |
3 |
— |
3 |
5 |
— |
5 |
|
Unspecified |
158 |
52 |
210 |
359 |
172 |
531 |
|
Total |
3,352 |
1,287 |
4,639 |
5,862 |
1,954 |
7,816 |
Limerick City Exchange
|
Males |
Females |
Total |
||
|
29 January 1982 |
Live Register, of which under 25 years of age |
3,433 882 |
1,266 535 |
4,699 1,417 |
|
27 January 1984 |
Live Register, of which under 25 years of age |
5,647 1,547 |
1,938 856 |
7,585 2,403 |