asked the Minister for Labour if he will state in view of the serious employment difficulties being encountered in the hotel and catering industry the steps he intends to take to assist the industry during 1983.
Ceisteanna—Questions . Oral Answers . - Hotel and Catering Industry .
16.
: My Department and its agencies assist the hotel and catering industry in a number of ways. In 1982 CERT was allocated £1.22 million from the Exchequer towards the training of some 5,800 workers in the industry and approximately 1,500 unemployed persons seeking to enter employment in the sector. The allocation for 1983 is £1.706 million. This funding, along with a matching ESF grant, is expected to enable CERT to maintain its training activity in the industry at its 1982 level and also to train approximately 1,900 unemployed persons seeking entry to the industry.
Young people were assisted by work experience programmes in the hotel and catering industry in 1982 and they will continue to be placed on programmes in the industry in 1983.
As I indicated in replies to parliamentary questions on 15 March, the Youth Employment Agency have been asked to finance a scheme of employment incentives for the hotel and catering industry in 1983 and their response is expected this week.
: I note that the Minister's reply refers to training only. Apart from the hoped-for positive response from the Youth Employment Agency, what else does the Minister intend to do to assist an industry which has really suffered and will suffer again because of the inflationary impact of the devaluation decision?
: Far from suffering from the announcement at the weekend, I would have thought it would have been welcomed as a boon to the hotel and catering industry.
: That is not the case.