Jim Higgins
Question:1 Mr. Higgins (Mayo) asked the Taoiseach the number of reports pending from the National Economic and Social Council; the subject matter in each case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1634/99]
Ceisteanna–Questions. - National Economic and Social Council.
John Bruton
Question:2 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Taoiseach the number of reports it is expected that the NESC will publish in 1999; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2565/99]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 and 2 together.
The National Economic and Social Council appointed in November 1998 has been meeting on a monthly basis since then. At the request of the Government, the main work of the council during 1999 will relate to the preparation of a new strategy report to provide a basis for a national agreement in succession to Partnership 2000. Also, the NESC secretariat will continue to work on a study benchmarking Irish progress in the areas covered by the Partnership 2000 agreement both over time and by comparison with other countries. The subject matter includes work on education, taxation and child care. Some of the material in the benchmarking exercise will be drawn upon for the strategic review. It is intended that the results of the research will be published later in 1999. A short report on profitability in the Irish economy and associated policy issues is also in preparation. The report is due to be considered by the council in the spring.
The NESC secretariat is also preparing a study of housing in Ireland. Its objectives are to provide an overview and assessment of the situation in the main housing sectors and to recommend a consistent set of policies designed to address the various problems in housing. The report will be published in the latter half of 1999. Other elements of a work programme may be agreed later by the council subject to the priority task of the strategic review.
(Mayo): Will the Taoiseach consider commissioning a further report? We now have the happy situation where there is a net inflow of people to the country. For example, in 1997, 44,000 immigrants entered the country – that represents a net inflow of 15,000 – of whom 2,883, a mere 9 per cent, were asylum seekers. In view of the patently obvious fact that there is a major skills shortage, that this matter goes far beyond the simple expedient of granting work permits to asylum seekers – a proposal my party supports – that we will be unable to sustain our position as Europe's fastest growing economy unless there is a planned approach to increases in population and that we must try to determine the level of population increase required to meet our growing demand, will the Taoiseach consider asking the National Economic and Social Council to undertake a study to see how the skills and abilities of immigrants, in general, and asylum seekers can be utilised to assist the economy and how these people can be integrated into the country's social fabric?
I will make the Deputy's views known to NESC. However, the council's work programme for this year will be dominated by the strategic work it is carrying out in respect of a successor to Partnership 2000. A number of the matters to which the Deputy referred, particularly the skills issue, will probably form part of the council's current work.
(Mayo): With regard to the latter part of the Taoiseach's original reply, namely, the various problems besetting the housing sector, are all aspects of housing being examined in the study? Is it a root and branch examination of the entire housing sector with a view to determining what can be done to rectify a situation where it is impossible for young people to meet the cost of housing, where the price of sites has escalated and where the prices of houses are completely out of kilter with the fact that there has been little, if any, increase in the cost of building materials and supplies? How comprehensive is the review?
NESC reports are usually comprehensive and I understand that is the case with the one under discussion. It will be very useful to have access to the NESC's assessment of the situation in the main housing sectors.
Is the NESC carrying out a study on the medium-term issue of the ageing of the population and the effect of that on the pension burden, relative to pay, under which pensions must be met?
The NESC has been working on a study on the social strata in Ireland but I am not sure if this has been completed. This study does not deal exclusively with the age profile of the population but rather it concentrates on those who depend on welfare payments, State aid and assistance. However, a comprehensive study has not yet been carried out on ageing.