Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)

Is it not reasonable that the people on whom this will be imposed should know how much it will cost them? Given that the measure is to be unevenly implemented, different groups should know how much it will cost them. The Minister has not answered that question.

Approximately 50,000 people are forced to emigrate every year, almost the equivalent of the number sitting the leaving certificate examination. When we looked at the actual figures, it appeared that only 400 jobs would be created by current and capital expenditure in a whole year. When we asked how many jobs would be created, some Ministers said they could not tell. The Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources said 2,000 jobs would be created in retrofitting, while the Minister for Education and Skills said 3,000 jobs would be created under the schools summer works scheme. How many additional jobs will be created by the new investment? Will they be permanent, temporary or on three month fixed contracts?

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