Dáil debates

Tuesday, 29 March 2011

3:00 pm

Photo of Clare DalyClare Daly (Dublin North, Socialist Party)

When I asked the Minister for his priorities, I was hoping for something more substantial than the generalities that appeared in the programme for Government. I was hoping for an indication of a real plan to deal with the crisis of almost 500,000 people who are unemployed. The Minister did not mention the shovel-ready projects referred to in the programme for Government. Clearly many people are ready with their shovels but have not been given any nod from the Government as to the useful works that might be carried out. What is the date for starting projects such as metro north and how many people will be employed? How many people will be employed in the energy conservation measures mentioned in the programme for Government? We have yet to see any details in that regard.

We have seen no figures in terms of job creation; we have seen a job reduction figure. While his colleague is sacking 25,000 people in the public sector, I believe the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation has a target of 15,000 people in training and another 60,000 in internships. At best internships are white-collar apprenticeships and are certainly not jobs. I ask him to outline how he envisages these being regulated, where they will be created and what will be the prospect for full-time employment at the end.

There seems to be a clear flaw in the strategy in that there is a total reliance in the private sector. The Minister has mentioned tinkering with reducing employers' PRSI and VAT. How many jobs does the Minister believe will result? It is clearly not the 500,000 people who are on the dole. I ask the Minister to comment on the fact that there was a reduction of 31% in private sector investment last year. If we are to address the issue of job creation adequately, there clearly needs to be a State-led programme and I have not heard any detail or substance in that regard. In fact the programme provides the opposite; it is a reduction of jobs with the targeting of the semi-State sector. That is where the Government has ring-fenced the funding for its jobs programme. We are now at day 20 out of the 100 days and there are not too many extra shovels working at the moment. The clock is ticking and I would be interested in hearing how the Government will square that circle.

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