Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 23 Mar 1993

Vol. 428 No. 1

Written Answers. - Unemployment Statistics.

Thomas P. Broughan

Question:

236 Mr. Broughan asked the Minister for Enterprise and Employment the percentage, level, age and gender cohorts of unemployment in each Irish region and specificially in County Dublin; the corresponding regional levels of IDA grant aid; and his views on whether there is a distinct negative imbalance towards the Dublin region in these figures.

Minister for Enterprise and Employment (Mr. Quinn)

As regards the information sought by the Deputy in the first part of his question, the position in respect of 1991 is to be found in Tables 9 and 10 of the Labour Force Survey 1991. I understand that the 1992 Labour Force Survey will be published in June of this year.

As regards the second and third parts of the question, I would refer the Deputy to the regional analysis of IDA capital expenditure which is to be found in the supplement to the IDA's Annual Reports for 1991 and previous years, which are available in the Library of the House. Information in respect of 1992 will be included in the supplement to the 1992 Report.

The level of IDA capital expenditure in any county in any year reflects the drawdown of grants by industrial projects approved for grant aid in that county in that year and previous years.

While the IDA seeks to influence projects to locate in areas of greatest job needs, the final decision on location is always taken by the promoter of the project.

The IDA does not discriminate on the basis of gender or age of either promoters or potential labour force.