Vol. 465 No. 7
4 Dr. McDaid asked the Taoiseach the number of persons registered as unemployed in each town in County Donegal on the latest date for which figures are available; and the comparative figures for each of the years 1994 and 1995. [10309/96]
The information requested by the Deputy is contained in a statement which I propose to circulate in the Official Report. The number of persons on the live register in each unemployment office in County Donegal on 26 April 1996 and comparative figures for 29 April 1994 and 28 April 1995, respectively is as follows:
|
29 April 1994 |
28 April 1995 |
26 April 1996 |
|
|
Ballybofey |
1,676 |
1,580 |
1,706 |
|
Ballyshannon |
795 |
741 |
885 |
|
Buncrana |
2,453 |
2,112 |
2,347 |
|
Donegal |
694 |
645 |
657 |
|
Donegal Control Office |
* |
14 |
11 |
|
Dunfanaghy |
1,102 |
1,038 |
1,079 |
|
Dungloe |
1,897 |
1,740 |
1,793 |
|
Killybegs |
1,202 |
1,218 |
1,253 |
|
Letterkenny |
3,041 |
2,984 |
3,030 |
|
Total County Donegal |
12,860 |
12,072 |
12,761 |
Being frequently reminded of the marked increase in the numbers of people at work since Fianna Fáil turned our economy around in 1987, is the Minister aware that, over the first year in office of this Government, that happy position is not applicable in Donegal as figures released by IDA-Ireland and Forbairt show a net loss of nine jobs in the region? Furthermore, is he aware that yesterday the Chairman of the International Fund for Ireland specifically named Donegal as an area of high unemployment? What does the Government intend to do about that?
The question before us is essentially a statistical one and we may not delve into policy matters.
The figures bear out the fact that employment or unemployment in Donegal — whichever description one wants to use — is static, some 12,000 throughout the county with minor variations. Indeed the relevant figures for the different employment exchanges in Ballybofey, Ballyshannon, Buncrana, Donegal, Donegal Control Office, Dunfanaghy, Dungloe, Killybegs and Letterkenny are uniform. Therefore, while the position has not improved substantially, it certainly has not deteriorated.
Indeed when the Deputy's party Chief Whip answered similar questions previously, it was generally accepted there were distortions between the actual unemployment figures and those shown on the live register. It is accepted that the live register is not an accurate gauge of the true level of unemployment, reflecting those in receipt of unemployment assistance, unemployment benefit, those who sign on for three days or more per week but also reflects — and this is where the distortion occurs — a FÁS scheme applicant who must also sign on as must an applicant for half the spouse's benefit. In addition, the circumstances surrounding the equality provisions of the Social Welfare (No. 2) Act, 1985, have caused further distortions.
While the disparity in the figures is in the region of 80,000, that is not peculiar to this country but confirms to experience generally throughout the European Union. Somebody came to my clinic recently who had received an order for £87,000 to buy furniture for a bar in Manchester, advertised on a local radio station, but was unable to find the requisite three skilled or semi-skilled carpenters. He then approached his local employment exchange where he was unable to obtain the necessary details, because they are confidential. He then approached his local FÁS office, where he was unable to recruit the requisite three carpenters, as there were none on the register in Castlebar. Therefore, there is some distortion in regard to the accuracy of the live register; it is not an accurate gauge of unemployment. While not trying to make excuses for the figures in Donegal, it is accepted throughout the European Union that the only accurate gauge of employment and unemployment figures are the April returns of the Labour Force Survey.
While accepting what the Minister of State said, when one observes the figures furnished by IDA-Ireland and Forbairt, one realises they too are constrained by investors wishing to locate in specific regions. I hear them comment continuously that investors want to invest in areas with a large population, close to ports, with a young workforce and so on. Can the Minister impress on IDA-Ireland that Donegal is close to our fourth largest city, where there is a university and a regional technical college, from which several hundreds of well educated young people emerge annually? It is close to the seaports of Larne and Belfast and airports; yet IDA-Ireland or Forbairt do not appear to target anything in that direction, indeed their statistics appear to be based on circumstances prevailing on the east coast because of the facilities available there? Can the Minister impress on IDA-Ireland that other regions of the country have high levels of educational facilities and infrastructure?
I would be more than prepared to convey the Deputy's remarks to IDA-Ireland but we might anticipate that that agency might well counter mine and the Deputy's observations by highlighting the fact that one of our largest clothing industries — Fruit of the Loom — is located in Donegal and that Omega shirts is beside it. Indeed, throughout the length and breadth of the county, there is substantial evidence of semi-State activity in attracting foreign, very successful overseas industries. Therefore, as an industrial base, it has proven its attraction.
I opened a new radio station in Donegal town recently when, having spoken to people right across the political spectrum, particularly those at local authority level, I had the impression there is marked confidence in Donegal, whose county enterprise board has been very successful to date in the matter of job creation in the small, neglected sector and forging its niche in that region.
County Donegal also has the largest community school in Carndonagh and a fine, growing regional technical college in Letterkenny. Therefore, my overall impression is that Donegal does not lack much either industrially or educationally.
One question remains in the name of Deputy Killeen, after which I shall be obliged to move on to other questions.
I concede to Deputy Keaveney.
While the establishment of country enterprise boards was a brilliant idea, how does the Minister of State expect £1.1 million worth of projects last year and 27 valid projects this year to be funded through a quarterly allocation of £90,000? While, according to the Minister of State, unemployment in the county may be static at present, places like Inishowen, must rely on industries such as Fruit of the Loom. Other regions focus on fewer numbers of large industries, so that we need help in the case of small industries not being replaced. Will the Minister of State ensure greater allocation of funds to the county enterprise board and talk to his colleague in the Department of the Marine to advocate greater allocation of resources which would have massive implications for our unemployment figures?
I will certainly convey Deputy Keaveney's comments to the appropriate people. As she knows, the Foyle Fisheries Bill, at an advanced stage of preparation, will be introduced shortly. Indeed one of Donegal's successes has been its county enterprise board, based on whose results, the case for additional funding is self-evident. In addition Donegal will be one of the major beneficiaries of the plan announced last week by the Taoiseach, elaborated on by the Minister of State, Deputy Carey today, falling very much within the scope of the £200 million to emanate from four sources — the European Union, the Government, European Investment Bank and private investors. If one takes the cumulative effect of all the agencies, plus the plans coming on stream, one can predict a bright future for Donegal. I hope the Deputy will not lose her seat next time round.
