Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)

Certainly I agree with Deputy Burton that this is a very serious position. With regard to the IBEC figures I know that recent forecasts in the Department predict a figure of 400,000 for the end of this year. In January, the seasonally adjusted number was 326,000 and while there was a large increase in the month, some of this was anticipated given sectoral developments in recent months. January's figure was disappointing. However, it must be borne in mind that this is just one month. If the January monthly rate of increase continued, the year end figure would be significantly higher. At this stage we do not expect this as the reactivation and retraining programmes begin to have their desired effects as we go through the year.

With regard to the question of protecting existing jobs, the Cabinet committee on economic recovery is examining this issue. FÁS has a vital role to play and the Government is working to ensure FÁS refocuses its energies from training those already in the workforce to training those who find themselves outside it.

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