asked the Taoiseach the annual average rate of new jobs created over the years 1965 to date; the present average annual rate of increase; and when it is expected that full employment will be achieved.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Creation of New Jobs.
1.
Between April, 1965 and April, 1968 — the latest date for which information is available—the average number of new jobs created annually was nearly 8,000.
Approximately 11,000 new jobs were created in the year ended April, 1968 and the indications are that this annual rate of increase is being exceeded at the moment.
As regards the latter part of the question, the National Industrial Economic Council in its Full Employment Report posed the main problems which would arise in seeking full employment by 1981. The Third Programme for Economic and Social Development, 1969-72, was drawn up against the background of the council's report and is a step on the road to full employment. The programme seeks to achieve the highest growth rates for sectoral and national output and employment that the economy can sustain over the period 1969-72 without endangering further progress. It also seeks to effect those changes in the economy that will enable faster growth to be achieved in the period after 1972.
I am sure the Taoiseach would agree that 1981 is a fairly leisurely progress towards full employment. His predecessor, Mr. Seán Lemass, said he was prepared to have his economic policies judged by their capacity to create employment. Does the Taoiseach agree that that is a fair criterion? Furthermore, after 12 years of Fianna Fáil policy, would the Taoiseach agree, in relation to this criterion, that their economic policies have failed or succeeded?
One has to take account of economic exigencies that are not always foreseen. There was an occasional setback in our growth of employment in 1965-66 which has now successfully been overcome. Employment in industrial activity is increasing now at a reasonably satisfactory rate.
Fianna Fáil have been in power for the past 12 years.
In what sectors were the 8,000 new jobs created last year— in Dublin, Cork, or the urban centres?
That is a separate question.
I should require notice of that question. I think it was fairly widely distributed throughout the country.
Not in the rural districts.
What was the net increase?
I could not give the net increase. There was an overall decline in jobs up to 1967. Since then, there was a net plus of over 2,000 in total employment, that is, the number of new industrial jobs exceeded the decline in agricultural employment by that amount.
The increase in jobs in this period was not, to say the least, spectacular.
No, but it was very satisfactory having regard to the fact that, up to quite recently, we were not able to keep up with the decline in employment on the land. Now, we are doing it and exceeding it.
Will the Third Programme for Economic and Social Development be more successful than the first and second were?
The First Programme for Economic Expansion was highly successful. The Second Programme was successful in many respects. I believe the Third Programme will be more successful than either of the first two.
The first two programmes did not produce any more new jobs.