asked the Taoiseach if he will give an estimate of the number of additional jobs which would have to be provided each year on average in order to solve the problem of unemployment; and if he will estimate the additional number of jobs likely to be provided each year on the basis of the Government's Programme for Economic Expansion published last year.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Provision of Additional Jobs.
1.
The number of jobs required to solve the unemployment problem depends on a number of factors, such as the level of emigration, the proportion of women who are in gainful employment at different ages, which is affected to some extent by the proportion of women married at different ages, the age distribution of persons who retire from gainful occupations each year, the mortality rate of persons in the working population, the school leaving age, etc. Changes in any of these variables would affect the number of jobs required, and in view of the assumptions which would have to be made, it has not been possible to carry out the detailed economic analysis which would be necessary to compile estimates of this nature.
It may however be said that at present about 55,000 young persons annually cease their schooling, the majority of whom can be assumed to be available for employment. It is estimated that about 30,000 persons leave the labour force annually through deaths or retirement (including retirement of women on marriage).
As to the second part of the question, it is not practicable to estimate the additional number of jobs likely to be provided on the basis of the Programme for Economic Expansion. As was expressly indicated in the Programme, it does not purport to be a detailed plan based on predetermined production targets but, rather, an outline of the more important contributions to economic development proposed to be made by the State, the underlying principle being that the private sector will continue to be the principal source of new productive projects.
Is the Taoiseach aware that in the last general election in Cork, the Fianna Fáil Party organisation issued a leaflet in which they promised that one of the things they would do immediately on being returned to office was to find 100,000 new jobs? Two and a half years have passed since the promise was made and we are now entitled, in accordance with the promise, to see at least 50,000 new jobs. How many of the 50,000 new jobs have since been provided?
It is perfectly correct that our rate of progress is not yet rapid enough to enable us to reach the goals at which we are aiming.
It was a deliberately dishonest promise.
Let them "get cracking."
The engine has got rusty.