asked the Minister for Industry, Trade, Commerce and Tourism if he accepts the IDA projection of 1,000 new manufacturing jobs for 1984 is totally unacceptable and inadequate in view of the unemployment emergency that exists today; and the action he proposes to take to rectify the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Industrial Employment.
12.
There is no such projection. It is expected that between 11,000 and 12,000 new first time jobs will be created by the industrial development agencies in 1984.
Targets for the net growth in manufacturing employment are being considered by the Government at present in the context of the White Paper on Industrial Policy. It is expected that the White Paper will be published within the next month.
Do I understand the Minister to say that there was never a projection within the IDA of 1,000 new manufacturing jobs?
The projection the Deputy is referring to was not the one as put in his question but rather a projection for net job creation, taking the number of new jobs created and subtracting from that the number of job losses. The figure of 1,000 may have appeared in that context but, as I have indicated, the expected figure for new manufacturing jobs is between 11,000 and 12,000.
Does the Minister accept that a net figure of 1,000 new manufacturing jobs is sufficient to meet the unemployment crisis?
I am not to be interpreted as accepting that. The Deputy's question was misconstrued because he based it on new manufacturing jobs whereas there was a different reference he should have made.
The Minister is playing with words. Is he aware that the chief executive of the IDA gave the figures I am talking about on a "Public Account" programme but since, as the Minister says, the figures are not acceptable to him, has he directed the IDA to revise their projections in respect of the creation of manufacturing employment?
At the risk of repeating myself, the figure as quoted by the Deputy is incorrect.
I am referring to what the chief executive said.
It is of considerable importance that in matters such as these the wording is correct. I do not accept that a performance which merely allowed the creation of 1,000 jobs in industry more than the number lost in a given year would be satisfactory. I would not accept that as a target and I have conveyed that view to the IDA.
As a consequence of that, have they reviewed their targets?
They will be dealt with in the White Paper to which I referred.
13.
asked the Minister for Industry, Trade, Commerce and Tourism if he is aware that there were 21,000 fewer employed in Irish industry in September 1983 than there were in September 1973 and that this serious downward trend is continuing; and the action he and the Government are taking to correct it.
I am aware of the decline in manufacturing employment in the period 1973 to 1983, as shown by the relevant CSO statistics.
The Deputy will be aware that the Government propose to publish a White Paper on Industrial Policy within the next month. This White Paper will set out a policy framework designed to restore the competitiveness of Irish industry and increase manufacturing employment.
It is expected that between 11,000 and 12,000 new first-time jobs will be created by the IDA in 1984.
Would the Minister agree that the serious downward trend in manufacturing employment is continuing? While I welcome the Minister's commitment to publish the White Paper within a month — we have been waiting 18 months for it — does he agree that the climate is unfavourable for investment? He said that the IDA would create 11,000 new manufacturing jobs but can he give a figure on what job losses are likely to be?
These figures are net figures. They refer to the number employed in manufacturing. They take into account job losses and job gains. The decline which commenced around 1979 has continued but recently there has been a marked deceleration in the rate of decline in manufacturing jobs. I am on record as indicating I am hopeful that towards the end of the year we will begin to see, if the present favourable trends continue, job numbers in manufacturing begin to rise again. Although we have had a decline in manufacturing employment of 4 per cent since 1973 the decline in other countries has been much greater. It was 23 per cent in Denmark; 14.5 per cent in France; 22 per cent in the Netherlands; 26 per cent in the UK and 13.6 per cent in Germany.
Does the Minister agree that the countries he has mentioned do not have the problems we have?
That is true.
What is his forecast of job losses in 1984? The Minister was able to give me a projection for job creation.
I do not have a detailed breakdown to hand.
That is a separate question.
Job losses will be in excess of the number of new jobs created over the year by a significant margin. I expect that by the end of this year there will be fewer people in manufacturing than at the end of last year. In the last few months of the year we might see the trend move a little but the net figure at the end of the year will be below what it was at the end of last year.
14.
asked the Minister for Industry, Trade, Commerce and Tourism the number of projected jobs in IDA approved industries in each year from 1970 to 1983 inclusive; and in the first four months of 1984.
15.
asked the Minister for Industry, Trade, Commerce and Tourism the number of new first time IDA grant-aided jobs created in industry in each year from 1970; and in the first four months of 1984.
16.
asked the Minister for Industry, Trade, Commerce and Tourism the number of grant-aided new jobs filled in each region in each year from 1977.
17.
asked the Minister for Industry, Trade, Commerce and Tourism the number by country of origin of overseas projects agreed in each year since 1977, together with other job potential and planned investment and IDA grant commitment.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 14 to 17, inclusive, together.
The information requested by the Deputy is contained in the annual reports of the Industrial Development Authority, copies of which are laid before each House of the Oireachtas. Details in regard to 1983 will be contained in the annual report of the Authority for 1983 which will be published in the near future. Particulars of the number of grant-aided new jobs filled in each IDA region are not available prior to 1978.
I was looking for statistical information which is readily available in the Minister's Department and does the Minister not agree that this is a total unsatisfactory reply? It is clear that the Minister does not want to answer my questions. I do not have the details. I do not believe the information would be in the Minister's favour. Is that why the Minister told me to dig it out of reports which have not even come into the Library yet? We have not yet received the 1983 report from the IDA. I might get the information in six months' time.
The Deputy asked a number of questions.
The Minister knows the gist of what I am looking for. Is it not facetious of him to come in with that kind of a reply when the information is readily available in his Department? He is not prepared to make it available to an Opposition spokesman.
The Deputy will be aware, if he takes the trouble to go to the Dáil Library, that the information is available there in the annual reports of the IDA.
Not in the way I asked in the question.
In respect of 1983, the information will be published in the IDA report for that year in July. Then the Deputy will have all the information he is seeking. I cannot disclose the information that may be contained in the IDA report until such time as it is laid before this House in the normal way.
Is the Minister saying that the information I requested and the manner in which I requested it is readily available in the annual reports?
Yes.
It is not, because I have already studied them. Either the Minister wants to be helpful or he does not. I tried to be helpful in relation to industrial employment but I have to have facts and figures on which to base new policies and ideas for the future. If the Minister is not prepared to co-operate that is fine.
If the Deputy cannot obtain his information in the research services in Leinster House——
Not in the manner in which I am looking for it.
——drawing on the IDA reports, I will get it for him. I wish him to use the services available in Leinster House first.
I assure the Minister I have tried to get it. He will know that these questions came into his Department only last week because I have been trying to get the information together. If we are to have a meaningful debate on industrial policy I need to have this factual information. I have gone out of my way to try to obtain this information. I do not come in here looking for smart aleck answers to smart aleck questions. All I want from the Minister is an assurance that he will make it available to me through the service of his Department.
I am not making any suggestion that the Deputy is looking for smart aleck information. I am quite sure that any question he puts down is done so for legitimate reasons. I accept that the information he is seeking in these questions is information he is legitimately entitled to seek.
Does the Minister accept that I have looked for it?
Most if not all of it is available in the IDA annual reports. I made an offer to the Deputy that if he contacts the research services in Leinster House and they cannot furnish the information then I will get it for him.
I have made every effort——
I will get the information for the Deputy within a week of his indicating that he cannot get it.
Will the Minister supply it from his Department or not?
I have informed the Deputy of what I will do.
I will remember that in future.