asked the Minister for Economic Planning and Development the numbers on the live register at the Waterford Employment Exchange for the latest available date and the corresponding date in 1978; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Waterford Live Register.
17.
The total number on the live register at the Waterford Employment Exchange at 9 February 1979, the latest available date, was 2,278. This represents an increase of 16.5 per cent on the figure of 1,955 at 10 February, the corresponding date in 1978.
The Government's plan for dealing with unemployment are outlined in the White Paper Programme for National Development 1978-1981. Moreover, in this year's budget, a special provision of £20 million was made for further measures to support employment creation and maintenance, including a programme of residual employment activity along the lines described in the White Paper.
The IDA plans, which are under review at present, have a job target of 1,300 for the Waterford and New Ross town group and AnCO have increased their training plans for the area.
Is the Minister aware that the numbers on the live register in Waterford are, firstly, unacceptably high and, secondly, are increasing rather than decreasing as one would have expected under their so-called manifesto? Is the Minister further aware that the number of factories that have closed in the Waterford area is causing severe social unrest in that city? Would the Minister indicate to the House what precise activities the Government intend undertaking to establish a number of substantial factories in the Waterford area to take up this exceedingly high unemployment content?
I am aware that the experience in Waterford has been contrary to the national experience, namely, that unemployment has risen there recently, whereas over that comparable period there had been a siginificant fall in unemployment in the country as a whole. That increased unemployment is associated with specific problems in a number of firms in that area. Arrangements are being made to ascertain if some replacement firms or activities can be brought in rapidly to substitute those firms which experience difficulties.
In addition, the Industrial Development Authority have been active in promoting Waterford as a centre for new industry. There are at least six projects currently under construction or starting production which will provide an aggregate of approximately 700 jobs. That is quite independent of the Waterford Glass expansion which is planned to provide something in the region of 1,100 extra jobs, making a total of 1,800 jobs in the pipeline. Perhaps I might summarise that by saying that, for the county as a whole last year, there were 37 projects approved with a job potential of something in excess of 2,000. Therefore there is an awareness of the need to provide improved employment opportunities in that area. Action is being taken and the first fruits of that accelerated programme of job provision will be seen in the course of the current year.
Is the Minister aware of the Bannon Report which pointed out the need for office type jobs in the Waterford area? Would the Minister indicate the Government's intention in relation to decentralisation of some Departments down the country and say if he intends to designate Waterford as one of the centres?
I am aware of the Bannon Report to which the Deputy refers. With regard to the remaining part of the Deputy's question, namely, whether Waterford would be one of the eight centres as part of the initial group of centres associated with the Government's announced decision to decentralise at least 2,000 civil servants over the coming two to three years, no decisions have been taken yet on the choice of the eight centres. That will be done when the studies being made of the various regional characteristics have been completed.