Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)

I thank Deputy Michael McGrath for tabling this amendment, which makes an interesting suggestion. Unfortunately, however, it is not possible for me to implement it owing to the limitations in data available to the Department of Finance.

The Central Statistics Office produces employment data four times a year in the quarterly national household survey. While this data set provides employment information on a broad sectoral basis, it is only available on a net basis. It does not provide information on job creation and losses, which make up the net figure. While the new job churn data set produced by the CSO will allow such a distinction in the future, it does so only on an annual basis and with a significant lag. It currently only has data available up until 2009. Accordingly, it will not be possible to determine how many jobs are created directly as a result of the measures announced in the jobs initiative.

These measures are expected to support recovery in the labour market by improving our competitiveness position, stimulating demand and improving confidence. We cannot escape the fact we do not have the resources available at present to fund large-scale policy initiatives to help to generate economic activity. I emphasised this when I launched the jobs initiative and the point was reiterated by the Minister of State, Deputy McEntee, in his contribution to the debate on Second Stage. This means the direct stimulatory effect of the current package of initiatives will be modest and I make no extravagant claims on their behalf. What these measures principally represent are the first steps by the Government to providing the conditions which will better facilitate the return to work of those who are currently unemployed. These first steps will be followed by further movement towards the objective of rebuilding a prosperous and productive economy.

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