asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will indicate the number of jobs actually created in the past 12 months as a result of initiatives taken by the Government in implementation of the programmes to develop biotechnology, information technology and the other industrial growth sectors identified by the Government in their original Programme for National Recovery.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Job Creation.
58.
As the Deputy is aware, the Programme for National Recovery, agreed with the social partners and published in October 1987, is the definitive statement of the Government's plans, for the period to end-1990, for:
intensification of practical measures to generate increased job opportunities on a sectoral basis.
Section V, paragraph 10 of the programme states that the objectives of policy in manufacturing industry involve creating approximately 20,000 extra jobs on average per year over the next ten years, the actual provision accelerating as the programme policies take effect. Section V, paragraphs 15 and 16 of the programme indicate certain of the areas in which new job opportunities have been identified. However, since it is less than six months since the programme was introduced, it would be too early at this stage to attempt to quantify the job creation for the first year. On the basis of ongoing contacts with the industrial promotion agencies I am confident that the overall targets set in the programme can be achieved. At this stage, however, it is too early to give, with the requisite degree of precision, an indication of the sectoral composition of the extra jobs that will be created in the first year of the programme.
In so far as the references to biotechnology and information technology might be regarded as related to the science and technology development programme, initiated by the Government in June 1987, I should say that the long-term objective of this programme is the upgrading of the scientific and technological capacity of Irish industry. Its effect on job creation is therefore intended to be more indirect than direct. However, the programme already provides employment for 114 graduates, either in third level research centres or in companies.
While I appreciate that the word processor in the Minister's office has been working overtime producing this material, may I ask him if a single job has been created in any of these sectors about which we heard so much at the last general election from the Minister's party? Could he name just one job, other than a public sector job, that has been created as a result of his initiatives? Would he further indicate if he has set any target for this year, next year or the year after in regard to actual jobs, as distinct from public service jobs, that might be created?
I am not here dealing with public sector jobs. If the Deputy was listening to my reply he would have heard that I said the programme already provides employment for 114 graduates, either in third level research centres or in companies. I might also refer the Deputy to the programme itself. Individual targets have been set for the various growth sector areas which have been identified by the Government. Indeed, the chief executive of the IDA is already on record as taking the targets in hand and committing the IDA to fulfilling those targets in his domain. In the other areas, targets have been set for the food sector, fishing, tourism and forestry. The Deputy will appreciate that they do not all come within my jurisdiction but those that do we are on target to meet.
Has the Minister, any other member of the Government or other Government agency, set a specific target for jobs to be created in any one of those sectors in the first 12-month period or the second 12-month period of the overall programme? If he has not set targets of that kind how does he expect to ensure that there will be planned progress towards the ultimate objective? If the Minister has not set targets, how does he expect anyone in this House or elsewhere to have any faith in the overall targets?
I have already answered the question saying that specific targets have been set for the various sectors, as I have outlined. They are there in the programme for everybody and anybody to read.