Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Some 90,000 people on the live register are working three days a week. These statistics often do not give an accurate figure for those who are full-time unemployed. The National Pensions Reserve Fund launched an €850 million investment in three different categories in January. That is there to be taken up.

The Government has been dealing with the carnage in the last two years to sort out the promissory note and extend loan maturities, enabling a flattening out of the debt profile. We had come to a point, as the Deputy is well aware, where for the three years 2008 to 2011, every month the private sector lost 7,000 jobs. At least we have stabilised and now 1,000 jobs are being created in the private sector every month as a measure of increasing confidence and greater competitiveness, which has now increased by 20%. The country is becoming more attractive as a location for investment from international sources.

The challenge is to deal with confidence in the indigenous economy. Everyone understands the economic challenge people face. We have set out our fiscal plan and we must deal with the €300 million in savings from within the public sector. The NPRF has made investment funds available since January and the Government will now consider as we prepare for the Estimates and the budget how best to use any flexibility we have for direct investment in job creation where people can see the results. I will come back to the Deputy with a date for the legislation but it is important there be a direct injection into the economy where people can see the results in jobs coming through.

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