Thomas P. Broughan
Question:34 Mr. Broughan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment her views on recent rises in the numbers on the live register; and the Government's plans for a new employment action plan. [6617/02]
Written Answers. - Live Register.
The latest quarterly national household survey, QNHS, for the fourth quarter of 2001 shows that the unemployment rate increased to 4.0%, or 72,600 persons, from 3.9% in the same quarter in 2000. This compares with a rate of 10.3% in 1997. Long-term unemployment remained static at 1.2% or 21,300 persons in the fourth quarter. A a year earlier the rate was 1.4%, while in 1997 it was 5.6%. The latest seasonally-adjusted live register total for February 2002 is 160,800. This compares with 137,900 a year earlier and 260,800 in February 1997. I should also point out that employment increased by 42,600 in the year to the fourth quarter of 2001. The latest employment figure of 1,752,900 compares with 1,379,900 in 1997, that is, an increase of 373,000 in the number of people at work.
The bulk of the increase in unemployment has taken place since September 2001. The recent increase is due in the main to the global economic slowdown, particularly in the technological sector. There is a general view that unemployment will rise in 2002 but that good economic and employment growth will return in the medium term. The Department of Finance in its stability programme forecasts an unemployment rate of 4.75% in 2002 and employment growth of 1.4%.
As notified in Ireland's employment action plan, 2001, the main elements of the Government's employment policy are to promote employment growth and employment for all who seek it; to mobilise labour supply, including through increased female participation, equal opportunities and a balanced increase in immigration, in order to contribute to a consistent, strong, sustainable and non-inflationary level of economic growth; to enhance labour quality through education, training and in particular lifelong learning in order to strengthen the employability of individuals and to promote competitiveness and adaptability in firms; and to promote the economic and social inclusion of excluded persons, eliminate long-term unemployment and prevent future drift into long-term unemployment.
The EAP also gives details of the many programmes and measures which implement this policy approach. The employment action plan is prepared annually in response to guidelines agreed by the European Union under the EU's employment strategy. The 2002 EAP is currently under preparation. Given the positive medium-term outlook I do not envisage any significant change to the Government's overall employment policies as outlined in the 2001 EAP.
I acknowledge that there will be challenges in the coming year as jobs are lost and workers seek new employment. FÁS, which has a budget of €870 million in 2002, will continue to work to ensure that anyone who is seeking employment will have the opportunity and skills to do so. In particular, FÁS will continue its approach of intervening with those facing redundancy to put them in touch with job or retraining opportunities.