Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 273: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the estimated net jobs gains or losses in the economy in the first quarter of 2008; the special measures he is putting in place to retrain and re-employ workers who have lost jobs in the construction sector; the special measures he is taking to retrain or re-employ workers who have lost jobs in the manufacturing downturn; and if he is finalising a package of proactive measures to minimise job losses and prevent a full scale recession. [16215/08]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Employment/unemployment is measured by the Quarterly National Household Survey, collated and published by the Central Statistics Office. The most recent Quarterly National Household Survey, Quarter 4, 2007, which covers the period September-November 2007, indicates that employment has increased by 66,800 in the year. Data for Quarter 1 2008 (December-February) will not be available until May/June 2008. The range of services provided by FÁS, which involves information sessions, skills analysis, training/retraining courses and job placement will be available for those who become redundant because of company restructuring or closures. There is also active engagement with the unemployed after 3 months on the live register to assist them to progress towards employment, training or active labour market programmes.

FÁS is also placing particular emphasis on the training of low skilled workers in vulnerable industries. This is to ensure that in the event of becoming unemployed, they will have the skills necessary to make the transition to other employment. FÁS is currently developing a strategy in response to the current slowdown in the construction sector. This strategy will contain a range of initiatives such as working in close collaboration with the Construction Industry Federation and other key stakeholders to encourage redundant construction workers to seek re-training in skills which are in short supply in the economy. FÁS also works closely with the development agencies to identify and support individuals who wish to start their own business. The development agencies, including IDA Ireland, Enterprise Ireland and the County Enterprise Boards will continue to promote job creation through the delivery of programmes to assist the enterprise sector to develop thereby creating new jobs.