Vol. 437 No. 3
72 Mr. Gallagher (Laoighis-Offaly) asked the Minister for Enterprise and Employment if he will give an estimate of the number of jobs lost during the currency crisis; the measures that were introduced by the Government to protect employment during this period; the cost of such measures; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
It is not possible to give an estimate of the number of jobs lost during the period of the currency crisis. It is, however, relevant to mention that employment numbers in the firms assisted under the Market Development Fund were virtually maintained in full during that period.
The main measure introduced by the Government to protect employment during the currency crisis was the Market Development Fund operated under the aegis of An Bord Tráchtála. Additional assistance was also provided to firms at risk by various State agencies, mainly under their existing programmes.
