I welcome the Minister to the House to discuss this important issue. Despite the fact that we have had strong growth in employment in recent times, the long-term unemployed are being alienated and ostracised by the Government. Radical, innovative and targeted policies are required. The Government should treat this crisis as a national emergency.
Half those on the live register are long-term unemployed. In Dublin, 51 per cent of the unemployed have been out of work for more than 12 months and 26 per cent have been out of work for more than three years. I was pleased the Government appeared to be at last giving this problem the attention it deserves, but I can only describe the ministerial smoked salmon lunch summit on unemployment today as a cosmetic exercise.
Since this Government came to office there has been total confusion about who is responsible for employment policies. As spokesman for labour affairs I have had difficulty identifying whether it was Minister Bruton, Minister of State Rabbitte or Minister of State Fitzgerald who has responsibility for it. The Minister, Deputy De Rossa, entered the scene today and made new announcements. Has he taken over responsibility for unemployment?
The Government has failed miserably in not delivering on its promise to set up a local employment service to co-ordinate a range of counselling, training, work experience and job placement services for the long-term unemployed. Last March £6 million was allocated to set up this valuable service which would ensure the long-term unemployed would be made aware of jobs available locally and which would provide quality training. It is a national scandal that, having announced the scheme earlier this year, the Government has not yet set up this service. The Minister for Enterprise and Employment must cut through the red tape and ensure the employment service is put in place speedily.
The CSO labour force survey gives grounds for optimism on the jobs front and vindicates the economic policies pursued by the last Fianna Fáil Government. Between April 1994 and April 1995 the number of people employed increased by 49,000. I am heartened to note that the much maligned private sector has proved it can deliver on jobs if given the opportunity. The non-agricultural private sector is clearly the engine for growth in the economy, providing 37,000 jobs in the 12 month period April 1994 to April 1995. That sector must be encouraged to continue to expand. I urge the Minister for Finance to cut employment taxes in the forthcoming budget and to continue to restrain growth in public expenditure. They are the policies that must be pursued.
Clear targeting must take place in regard to the long-term unemployed. The mixture of ideological positions in this Government has become very apparent, with the Minister for Social Welfare, Deputy De Rossa, entering the fray today. Lack of cohesion and urgency is evident at Government level. I call on the Minister for Enterprise and Employment to ensure that those unemployed for 12 months and longer will not be ignored and excluded in terms of employment policies.