Vol. 529 No. 4
42 Mr. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if she has satisfied herself that the labour force is sufficient to meet the requirements of the growing economy; if she will ensure the smooth processing of the applications of immigrants who legally enter the country in their efforts to enter the labour force; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3080/01]
The Department of Finance in its Stability and Growth Pact, published on budget day, predicted a further tightening of the labour market in 2001. The Department forecast employment growth of 3.5%, or an additional 60,000 persons at work, average annual growth of 2.25% in the labour force over the next three years and a further fall in the unemployment rate to 3.2%.
The Government has in place a comprehensive strategy to meet the labour market challenges faced by a growing economy. Key elements in the overall policy mix include fiscal measures aimed at enhancing the attractiveness of taking up a job and remaining in work; active labour market programmes to assist the unemployed and disadvantaged in their transition to employment; placement of job seekers through the preventive strategy under the employment action plan; measures aimed at upgrading the skills of those both at work and unemployed; and enhanced child care facilities. The range and scale of interventions will continue to fully mobilise labour supply from domestic sources and will especially encourage increased participation of females in the labour market.
This approach is being augmented with a process aimed at attracting immigrants to our growing economy. Net outward migration of the early 1990s has been replaced with net inflows, of the order of 20,000 per annum over the last three years, of whom approximately 80% are from EU member states or returned Irish immigrants. Over 18,000 work permits were issued last year to non-EEA nationals. The implementation, in April 2000, of the new working visa/authorisation system resulted in the granting of 1,387 authorisations up to the end of December 2000. In addition, the Jobs Ireland campaign, operated by FÁS, is seeking to encourage people overseas to take up employment in Ireland.
I am satisfied, therefore, that the Government currently has a comprehensive strategy in place to maximise labour supply consistent with the demands of a growing economy.
