Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 11 March 2004
52 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of redundancies notified to her Department during 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 and to date in 2004; the projected numbers for the remainder of 2004; the steps being taken to deal with the sharp increase in redundancies; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8077/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe number of redundancies notified to my Department in the years mentioned were: 13,316 in 2000; 19,977 in 2001; 25,358 in 2002; 27,702 in 2003; and 4,640 to the end of February 2004. The increasing level of redundancies reflects slower economic activity in Ireland in line with difficult economic conditions worldwide.
The quarterly national household survey prepared by the Central Statistics Office last December, shows that employment growth continued in the third quarter of 2003, with an increase of 26,000 to bring the total number of persons in employment to 1.82 million.
The Government's focus is on improving competitiveness, which is critical to sustaining and developing both the manufacturing and international traded services sectors. Policy initiatives by the Government and the State development agencies are aimed at helping the country progress towards a knowledge and innovation driven economy. The enterprise strategy group, which I established in July 2003, has been given the task of developing strategic policy recommendations for enterprise in Ireland up to 2010.
