Vol. 421 No. 5
97 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will outline (a) the steps, if any, he has taken to create job opportunities and (b) the targets which have been achieved to-date; if he will give details of the special efforts, if any, which are being made to create job opportunities for young people and school leavers; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The State industrial development agencies operating under the aegis of my Department operate a wide range of programmes to support and assist the development of suitable manufacturing and international services projects.
Under the Programme for Economic and Social Progress (PESP), there is a target to create 20,000 jobs each year of the programme in manufacturing and international services sectors of the economy.
It was pointed out in the programme that the achievement of this target would require continuing stability in the economic environment and cost competitiveness throughout the industrial and services sectors, a positive external environment for our exports and a cooperative response from firms, employees and the various State agencies involved in supporting developments.
