Dáil debates

Wednesday, 12 May 2010

 

Enterprise Stabilisation Fund

1:00 pm

Photo of Leo VaradkarLeo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)

I was very concerned when I read the story in the newspaper about the reduction in the budget for the enterprise stabilisation fund, because the fund is one of the more effective measures introduced by the Government to stabilise viable companies during the recessionary period. Does the Minister agree that the Government has a budget strategy - with which I largely agree - and a banking strategy - with which I profoundly disagree - but has no strategy when it comes to jobs and competitiveness? It seems that every time the Government announces measures, they do not address the scale of the unemployment problem and when introduced are only introduced half-heartedly or late. We had such a situation with the work placement programme, which had few participants and few beneficiaries, the enterprise stabilisation fund, which we discussed already today, and the temporary employment scheme.

One scheme about which I would particularly like to ask, and on which the Minister may wish to comment, is the commitment to introduce a PRSI holiday for employers who take on new employees. I was the first to propose this almost two years ago and it is also supported by the Labour Party. It was announced in the budget, five months ago, that the Government would introduce this scheme to give employers a two-year holiday from PRSI payments for new employees. However, five months after the budget it has not been introduced. Will the Minister explain why?

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.