Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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74. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when she expects the live register figures to fall below the pre-pandemic level; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24441/22]

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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More than a year ago, the live register increased by in excess of 1 million due to the Covid pandemic. When does the Minister expect the live register to fall below its pre-pandemic level?

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. Prior to the onset of Covid-19 in March 2020, the labour market was performing strongly and the live register, which measures people claiming standard jobseeker's payments, stood at just over 183,000. By May 2020, this number had increased to just under 226,000. At its peak, the combined total of people in receipt of jobseeker's payments or pandemic unemployment payments, PUPs, reached 820,000 in April 2020. Including the employment wage subsidy scheme, EWSS, and the temporary wage subsidy scheme, TWSS, the number reached 1.25 million in May 2020.

The lifting of remaining health restrictions earlier this year, and the subsequent welcome economic recovery, has allowed the PUP and EWSS to be gradually unwound. On 29 March, the PUP scheme wound down, with the transition to full jobseeker's terms for all remaining recipients. The EWSS scheme is also in the process of closing. The live register now includes all eligible PUP recipients who transitioned to jobseeker's terms. I am pleased to report that, including all of these transitions, as of this week, the live register stands at approximately 174,200, which is below its pre-pandemic level. This is an extremely welcome development and signifies the strong and vibrant recovery of the labour market. This recovery reflects the value of the very strong State supports, not just PUP and EWSS, but schemes such as the Covid restrictions support scheme.

While current live register trends are extremely positive, we need to continue to provide appropriate employment supports to those who remain on the live register. Through delivering the pathways to work employment services strategy, we will continue to work to ensure that we have a balanced labour market recovery post Covid-19, where no one is left behind.

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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The figures speak for themselves. They show a clear reopening of our economy and significant growth in employment. Indeed, the European Union is predicting our gross domestic product will rise by 5.4% this year, which is the second highest in Europe. Does the Minister agree that Government policies are working? The figures are accurate. In fact, a record 2.5 million people are now in employment and in 2021, notwithstanding the Covid pandemic, we have added 229,000 new jobs.

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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It is very clear the intervention we took during Covid worked. The economy was able to bounce back and businesses got back again. The EWSS was particularly successful in keeping employees linked to their employers so when the Covid restrictions lifted they were ready to go. The PUP was absolutely essential. It is encouraging to see many, if not all, the people on the PUP are back at work. A small number have transitioned to the jobseeker's payment but that number continues to reduce.

We are now in a position where unemployment is lower than it was pre-pandemic. We have the lowest live register figures in more than a decade. Some 174,000 people are on the live register, yet we have a significant number of job opportunities in the economy at present. I want to address how we work with those people through retraining or upskilling. I want to help them get back into the workforce because there are still about 170,000 of them.

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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I again welcome the Minister's comments and the facts she has given us. This is not necessarily her responsibility, but the question that arises is that of our skills shortage in the economy. We need specific skills that cannot be met by the European Union. We ought to consider increasing the capacity of our economy to bring people in from outside the European Union who can meet those specific skills shortages. Otherwise, our economy will not be able to continue to grow.

Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I welcome the Minister's latest update on the live register figures, which shows a far more positive outlook as unemployment rates continue to fall. I will raise the issue of the continuing challenges faced by our hospitality and tourism sector that is struggling to fill significant numbers of vacancies ahead of the tourism season. Long delays in getting work permits and personal public service, PPS, numbers are slowing down recruitment of restaurant, hospitality and tourism workers. In some instances, it is taking up to six weeks to get new PPS numbers for workers from EU countries. While I understand some welfare offices are experiencing high levels of demand for PPS numbers, will the Minister outline what efforts are being made to reduce wait times for issuing PPS numbers for this crucial sector?

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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We have increased resources in the area of PPS numbers. There is huge demand at present, which the Deputy will appreciate, since we have just issued almost 32,000 PPS numbers to Ukrainians who are coming to this country. We have increased the resources in that area.

Deputy O'Dowd talked about skills shortages. I was at the Vintners' Federation of Ireland, VFI, conference last week. We know the hospitality sector is experiencing staff shortages so I was pleased to see yesterday that the VFI has launched a new bar management course in conjunction with SOLAS. That is showing people who choose that sector there is a career path in it for them. We have to get people interested in sectors because we know there is a demand for workers out there. For example, two weeks ago I launched the future building initiative with the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Deputy Harris. We will drive recruitment in the construction sector where there are major opportunities in retrofitting and housebuilding. My Department is working with SOLAS, the education and training boards and employers to show there is a career path in the construction sector. I will be at a jobs fair this Thursday morning, which will be again around the construction sector. We want to try to help people get back into work.