Vol. 489 No. 2
38 Mr. Naughten asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the plans, if any, she has to assist the clothing industry which is gradually diminishing; the number of jobs in the clothing manufacturing business; and the number lost in each of the years 1996 and 1997. [7631/98]
50 Mr. Deenihan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the plans, if any, she has to assist the clothing industry which is gradually diminishing; the number of jobs in the clothing manufacturing business; and the number lost in each of the years 1996 and 1997. [7632/98]
62 Mr. Flanagan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the plans, if any, she has to assist the clothing industry which is gradually diminishing; the number of jobs in the clothing manufacturing business; and the number lost in each of the years 1996 and 1997. [7630/98]
82 Mrs. Owen asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the plans, if any, she has to assist the clothing industry which is gradually diminishing; the number of jobs in the clothing manufacturing business; and the number lost in each of the years 1996 and 1997. [7700/98]
I propose taking Questions Nos. 38, 50, 62 and 82 together.
According to available data employment in the sector at end December 1995 stood at 14,100 and at end December 1996 at 13,000.
These figures show a small increase over those quoted in my reply dated 9 December 1997 to a similar question by Deputy Durkan. The difference in the figures is due to a recalculation by the Central Statistics Office of the employment estimates from 1991 onwards, which takes account of the benchmark employment results of the 1991, 1992 and 1993 Censuses for Industrial Production. Provisional figures for June 1997 also show employment at 13,000. Statistics on employment levels within the industry are not yet available for the full year 1997.
While the numbers employed between December 1996 and June 1997 show no change, there was a decrease of 1,100 from end 1995 and I am aware that there were further losses during the latter half of 1997. This is naturally very disappointing but as I already indicated in my December reply, the clothing sector in Ireland is in a transitional period, coming from a traditional low cost base through to a higher cost economy. This restructuring of the industry is vital in order to have a competitive future. The changing nature of the business is widely recognised and accepted by the industry.
My Department and the industrial development agencies, in co-operation with the industry, have made concerted efforts to assist the sector to restructure and a number of initiatives have been put in place in recent years.
The most recent strategy agreed for the sector is entitled "Securing the Future". This has helped to put in place a co-ordinated series of initiatives undertaken jointly on the part of the industry and the development agencies directed to building strong clothing companies capable of competing on both domestic and international markets.
The specific initiatives which are brought together under this action programme vary from company to company but typically they involve assistance towards one or more of the following:
— changes in product-market strategy
— financial restructuring
— support for the purchase of new technology
— retraining costs associated with production system change
— strengthening design capability through the purchase of computer-aided design and the recruitment of designers
— the promotion of best practice in clothingrelated technology through the Irish Garment Technology Centre.
