Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)

The total number of people recorded on the live register for October 2008 is 251,951, showing an increase of about 94,500 in the 12 month period. It should be noted that the live register is not designed to measure unemployment and includes part-time, seasonal and casual workers entitled to unemployment benefit.

Employment and unemployment are measured by the quarterly national household survey and published by the Central Statistics Office. In the second quarter of 2008, the most recent quarter for which data are available, employment increased by 6,900 over 12 months to a current total of 2,108,500. Unemployment increased by 15,200 to 115,500 in the same period. I understand the Central Statistics Office will release quarterly national household survey results for the third quarter tomorrow.

The rise in unemployment, while regrettable, must be viewed in light of unprecedented growth in the economy and employment in recent years. Overall employment growth was driven by significant growth in employment in the construction sector. Such levels of growth could not last indefinitely and the resultant rise in unemployment has been compounded by the international credit crisis in the economy and a general slowdown in employment in all sectors. Ireland is not alone in finding itself in this position, as many countries throughout Europe and around the world are experiencing similar difficulties in their labour markets. For example, it was announced recently that the euro zone has slipped into recession. Moreover, Britain, Japan and the United States are experiencing economic difficulties while China has announced it will pump €500 billion into infrastructural development to stimulate its economy. Clearly, we are not alone in facing grave challenges.

FÁS and the Department of Social and Family Affairs are working together in order that they can respond quickly to the increase in unemployment. For example, as regards employment and job search services, FÁS, with the local employment services provided by area based partnerships, has geared up its employment services further to provide increased capacity for expected increased referrals from the live register and put in place a series of actions to facilitate redundant apprentices in completing their studies.

Additional information not given on the floor of the House.

These include redundant apprentices being allowed to progress to their next off-the-job phase of training without having to do the next on-the-job phase. I have also provided FÁS with €4 million to subsidise the employment of redundant apprentices in 2009. FÁS has specific mechanisms in place to deal with redundancies and-or company closures. It offers a tailored approach as early as possible to the workers affected with a view to assisting them to access alternative employment.

As regards training for those who become unemployed, I have given FÁS an additional €5 million for training the unemployed and the organisation will increase total training places in 2009. It will also provide a range of certified, short, flexible, modular programmes in construction sector activities which are expected to remain buoyant despite the slowdown in construction. It has established a training fund to enable a speedy response to identified retraining needs for low skilled and redundant craft workers and in 2009 it will open evening classes to people who are unemployed without payment of a fee.

As regards promoting enterprise development to create new jobs, the enterprise development agencies of my Department, including IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland, are working to ensure we continue to expand the economy and increase jobs, even in the current more challenging environment. The pipeline of new business for which IDA Ireland is competing is as strong as at any time in recent years. To facilitate this process we need to ensure our competitiveness is sustained into the future.

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