Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 18 Jun 2002

Vol. 553 No. 2

Written Answers. - Overseas Workers.

Eamon Ryan

Question:

98 Mr. Eamon Ryan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the projected needs for overseas workers, with an updated figure in view of her previous assessment that 200,000 overseas workers would be required to implement the national development plan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13728/02]

Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Ms Harney)

The figure of 200,000 workers from overseas being needed in the period 1999-2000 originated in an economic study which used the working assumption that the relationship of employment growth to economic growth in the first half of this decade would remain the same as that in the second half of the 1990s.

Based on patterns of migration in the late 1990s about half of those coming in would be returning Irish, another 25% to 30% would come from the wider EU and only perhaps 20% were likely to come from elsewhere in the world.

Given that the rates of economic growth, employment growth and immigration were higher than expected in the early years of the NDP, my Department has been re-assessing the likely demand for labour from overseas in the period to 2007. This work is continuing and recent experience and projected flows are being considered in the context of the ESRI's most recent medium-term review.

Present indications are that we will have a continuing need for personnel from overseas throughout the period to 2007 but at a reduced level to that experienced in recent years. I hope to be in a position to draw firmer conclusions in this area shortly.

Questions Nos. 99 and 100 answered with Question No. 93.