asked the Minister for Labour if he is aware of the large number of unemployed in Galway city and county; and the plans the Government have to provide employment.
Written Answers. - Galway Unemployment.
297.
I am aware of the numbers registered at the Employment Exchanges and Offices in Galway city and county, where in fact, the rate of increase in unemployment during the past year was among the lowest in the country.
The Government seek to promote employment in Galway through various ongoing measures and a number of proposed measures which include: the generation of employment through general economic and budgetary measures; the promotion of industrial employment in the area through the various grants and incentives provided by the Industrial Development Authority and Údarás na Gaeltachta; the additional job-creation measures being undertaken by the Government in fulfilment of their commitment under the National Understanding for Economic and Social Development which will benefit the area. These measures include a major construction programme involving hospitals and all areas of education — primary, secondary and third level — including an extension to the Engineering School at University College Galway, and the provision of extra expenditure for local authority housing, house purchase loans and grants, road works and sanitary and environmental services; the payment of wage subsidies (a) under the employment incentive scheme to encourage employers to recruit unemployed adults and school leavers and (b) under the employer's temporary subvention; the provision of employment, mainly for young people, through the special employment schemes namely the Work Experience Programme, the Community Youth Training Programme, the Temporary Grants Scheme for Youth Employment and the Environmental Improvement Schemes Programme, which operate in the county; the transfer of sections of the Department of Defence to Galway city as part of the Government's programme of decentralisation of Government offices. Sections of the Department of the Gaeltacht were transferred to Galway in July and further transfers are envisaged. In addition to the employment being provided directly by these transfers, jobs will be generated in the construction and ancillary industries through the provision of the necessary offices and in services through the spin-off effect; the training, placement and guidance services provided by AnCO and the National Manpower Service in the county which enhance the job prospects of unemployed persons, and the establishment of a regional manpower committee in the Western Planning Region (Galway and Mayo) early next year.