asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce the number of jobs (i) created in Irish industry and (ii) lost in Irish industry in the years (a) 1987 and (b) 1988.
39.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Job Creation.
31.
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce the net number of manufacturing jobs created during 1988, that is, the number of manufacturing jobs created less the number of manufacturing jobs lost; and the way in which this figure compares with the targets set in the Programme for National Recovery.
51.
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce the expected level of job creation during 1989; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
55.
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce, in respect of the 20,000 jobs which have been created with the assistance of the IDA which he recently announced, if he will indicate in respect of each county (a) the number of jobs created, (b) the location of those jobs and (c) the firms within which those jobs have been created; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 31, 39, 51 and 55 inclusive, together.
The Programme for National Recovery set a target of creating approximately 20,000 extra jobs in manufacturing industry — including international services — on average per year over the next ten years. Based on the results of end year surveys undertaken by the industrial promotion agencies over 19,500 jobs were created in 1988. When account is taken of the net increase in temporary employment the target of creating 20,000 extra jobs was fully achieved. I expect that a similar number of jobs will be created in manufacturing industry in 1989 in line with the targets set in the programme and in the National Development Plan 1989-1993. Just under 17,000 jobs were created in 1987.
In relation to job losses the programme indicated that, while the offsetting trend in job losses cannot be foreseen accurately, the more competitive economic climate and the greater attention being given to the indigenous sector will make existing jobs more secure. This has been confirmed by the annual employment surveys which indicated that between 1987 and 1988 job losses in the manufacturing sector have fallen by 20 per cent.
When account is taken of job losses there was a net gain in manufacturing and international services employment of over 2,000 in 1988 which compares with a net loss in 1987 of over 5,000.
A detailed breakdown of the jobs created in 1988 on a county basis is not available. I am arranging to have circulated with the Official Report a breakdown of the jobs created on a regional and sectoral basis.
TABLE
Job Creation in Manufacturing Industry (Including International Services) in 1988.
1. Sectoral Breakdown
|
Sector |
IDA Region |
SFADCo Region |
Gaeltacht Area |
Total |
||||
|
% |
Number of Jobs |
% |
Number of Jobs |
% |
Number of Jobs |
% |
Number of Jobs |
|
|
Chemicals |
5 |
752 |
4 |
104 |
4 |
42 |
5 |
898 |
|
Metals and Engineering |
31 |
4,872 |
39 |
1,093 |
18 |
182 |
31 |
6,147 |
|
Food, Drink and Tobacco |
15 |
2,407 |
15 |
434 |
32 |
326 |
16 |
3,167 |
|
Textiles and Clothing |
16 |
2,464 |
6 |
168 |
9 |
88 |
14 |
2,720 |
|
Other Manufacturing |
21 |
3,343 |
26 |
727 |
37 |
375 |
23 |
4,445 |
|
International Services |
12 |
1,924 |
10 |
291 |
— |
— |
11 |
2,215 |
|
Total |
100 |
15,762 |
100 |
2,817 |
100 |
1,013 |
100 |
19,592 |
2. Regional Breakdown
|
Geographical Area |
% |
Number of Jobs |
|
IDA Regions |
||
|
Donegal and North-West |
6 |
1,201 |
|
East |
32 |
6,263 |
|
Midlands |
5 |
1,021 |
|
North-East |
9 |
1,833 |
|
South-East |
10 |
2,024 |
|
South-West |
12 |
2,270 |
|
West |
6 |
1,150 |
|
SFADCo Region |
15 |
2,817 |
|
Gaeltacht Area |
5 |
1,013 |
|
Total |
100 |
19,592 |
In view of the figures the Minister has given which indicate that there was a decline of 3,000 jobs in 1987 and 1988 in manufacturing and industrial services, will he agree that it is inadequate for the National Development Plan to set as a target gross job creation when we all know — and indeed the Taoiseach acknowledged — that all that really matters is achievement on net job creation?
The whole emphasis is on the industrial manufacturing figure which I have just given. The plan states that some 29,000 jobs are estimated to have been created throughout the whole economy in 1988 and it is my Department's aim to step up the annual rate of job creation on a progressive basis to at least 35,000. That is part of the whole plan. As far as the estimates are concerned we believe, in consultation with the social partners, in setting realistic targets that can be achieved rather than the mythical targets which were a feature of Building on Reality with which the Deputy's party — and he as a Minister of State at the time — were so closely associated and which was a dismal failure.
Will the Minister agree that he said 3,500 jobs had been created in the past two years when the reality is that there has been a loss of 3,000 jobs?
The Deputy will be aware that employment surveys have indicated that job losses in the manufacturing sector have fallen considerably — by over 20 per cent — and that is the sort of trend we want to see. I am gratified by the ESRI prediction of 4 per cent growth in the economy this year. That is good news and I am sure the Deputy is as pleased as I am that so many jobs are being created within the economy to give our people at home an opportunity of work.
There is still an annual net reduction——
Deputy Shatter has a habit of heckling from a seated position and it will not be tolerated.
I am always willing to heckle from a standing position if that assists the House.
The Deputy should first be recognised by the Chair for that purpose.
The Minister said that a total of 29,000 jobs had been created last year. Is he aware of the reply given by the Minister for Labour on 31 January last that the total number of redundancies notified to his Department under the redundancy payments Act in 1988 was 23,037? Of course, that is by no means the total of jobs lost. Is the Minister satisfied that net new jobs were created last year?
I have already answered the question in relation to net new jobs last year. I indicated that 29,000 jobs were created last year. There was also a fallout but in the manufacturing and international services area there was an increase in new jobs of over 2,000 net.
Will the Minister not accept that unemployment figures are not falling and that emigration is continuing? The reality is that there has been no gain in jobs and that the Programme for National Recovery is an abysmal failure in the whole area of job creation, which is the primary objective of the Government but which is their main failure?
It is only the Opposition parties in the House who seem to think that the economy is not on the upturn.
I am talking about jobs.
The economy is rising and employment is being created. Our targets in the Programme for National Recovery are being achieved which has been recognised by all sectors of the economy but not by the parties in this House.
Ask the unemployed what they think.
The parties opposite, for their own negative reasons, just want to oppose for the sake of opposition. However, jobs are being created, we have reached our targets and there are more people at work today than there were this time last year. That is the important figure.
That disposes of questions for today.