asked the Minister for Economic Planning and Development the number of the 5,000 additional jobs, which were to be created in special youth employment projects within 12 months of the Government taking office, that have been filled to date.
Ceisteanna—Questions . Oral Answers . - Youth Employment Projects .
2.
: The two principal special youth employment projects which were announced in the budget were a work experience programme and an environmental improvement schemes programme. Due to administrative difficulties the start of the work experience programme has been delayed but a pilot scheme will be launched in July and the scheme will come into full operation after the summer holiday break. It is expected to provide 1,500 jobs this year. The environmental programme is already under way and a total of approximately 280 jobs had been provided at the beginning of this month. The target for 1978 as a whole is 1,000 jobs. The total number of jobs provided under other schemes by early June was approximately 170. It should be borne in mind, of course, that young people are filling a substantial proportion of the new jobs which are being provided in the public sector and in building and construction as part of the special job-creation programme.
: For the information of the House would the Minister outline the administrative difficulties that have impeded the expectations in respect of this programme?
: It would not serve any useful purpose to go into details of the reasons which delayed the rapid recruitment of people for these various youth employment projects. If the Deputy reads the morning papers he will find reference to one possible cause of the delay which is now being removed.
: Surely, if the Minister refers to administrative difficulties as one of the reasons for the failure of this Scheme, the House is entitled to know the nature of those difficulties.
: I doubt whether entering into a long discussion on the precise nature of the difficulties would further the cause of employment for young people.
: It might put the Government to work.
: Would the Minister not agree that, from a party who had been in Government for 16 consecutive years, it is a thin and unacceptable excuse to say that a delay was caused by administrative difficulties? Is there not implied in that a reflection on the Civil Service which the Minister is using as a cover-up for the failure of this scheme?
: It is by no means a reflection on the Civil Service.
: On whom, then, is it a reflection apart from the Government?
: I should prefer to concentrate on the question of finding jobs for young people.
: The Minister has not been very successful in that sphere so far.
: We shall judge the success of our efforts.
: Would the Minister indicate the average duration of the jobs within each work experience programme and also tell us into which areas and to what extent in each area the shortfall of 5,000 jobs has been absorbed?
: That is a separate question.
: I have given figures for each of those headings.
: But can the Minister indicate the areas in which the shortfall has been absorbed?
: The shortfall has not been absorbed because we were slow in getting the programmes under way. Recruitment was not proceeding as rapidly as we had envisaged but we are now making more rapid progress. To the extent that those existing programmes are not sufficient to achieve the target we shall bring forward further proposals as necessary.
: Can the Minister indicate the average duration of jobs within each programme?
: That is a separate question.
: The Minister has indicated that only 1,500 jobs will be created this year——
: In the work experience programme.
: ——but could he define the duration of the jobs and represent them in man years?
: I do not have a detailed breakdown of their conversion into man years, but if the Deputy tables a specific question I shall ascertain the information for him.
: Question No. 3.
: The Minister has not answered my question.
: I am answering the questions I am being asked.
: I appreciate that the Minister is not being unhelpful but——
: I have called the next question.