Vol. 511 No. 6
120 Mr. Callely asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the forecast for the number of people who will be employed at the end of 1999; the comparative figure for 1989; the likely trends for the years ahead; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25115/99]
The spring 1999 quarterly national household survey published by the Central Statistics Office, in October 1999 contains details of the numbers of persons at work using the International Labour Office measure. There were 1,591,100 persons in employment in the second quarter of 1999. This compares to 1,111,000 persons in employment in 1989, based on the annual labour force survey results for April 1989.
The National Development Plan, 2000 to 2006, is based on potential GNP growth of 5 per cent per annum being attained during the period of the plan in which annual average employment growth of 2 per cent is forecast in the period to 2006. The unemployment rate is forecast to fall to below 5 per cent during the same period.
