Written answers

Wednesday, 30 April 2008

Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment

Unemployment Levels

8:00 pm

Photo of Joe CostelloJoe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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Question 71: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he is concerned that according to figures published by the Central Statistics Office that 18 of the 28 towns with a population of 10,000 or more are suffering very high levels of unemployment, with Newbridge having 21.5% of the population on the live register; if he has plans to ensure that such towns are given particular priority in regard to the search for new jobs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16551/08]

Photo of Micheál MartinMicheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Department of Social and Family Affairs maintains the Live Register. The total number of people recorded on the Live Register for March 2008 is 197,992. The number of people signing on the live register for March 2008 in Newbridge is 3,987. The Live Register is not designed to measure unemployment. It includes part-time, seasonal and casual workers entitled to unemployment benefit.

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 (September-November) indicates that employment has increased by 66,800 in the year. The unemployment rate is currently at 4.5%.

The increase in the live register figures, while unwelcome, must be seen in the context of the major increase in employment over the last number of years, with the anticipated period of adjustment now being experienced. The predictions for the medium term are for continued employment growth, albeit at a slower pace than that experienced to date.

The most recent FÁS/ESRI Employment and Vacancies Survey for March 2008 shows that the percentage of firms reporting vacancies across all sectors is 10%, indicating that there are employment opportunities. The range of integrated support 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. In the delivery of these services, FÁS liaises with other relevant agencies such as Enterprise Ireland, IDA Ireland, the City/County Enterprise Boards and the Department of Social and Family Affairs. 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.

Regional development is a major commitment in the National Development Plan that is being delivered through the National Spatial Strategy (NSS). The enterprise development agencies are playing a significant role in promoting balanced regional development and there is now a strong focus on encouraging investors to explore and locate in the Gateway and Hub locations, in line with the NSS.

In relation to Kildare, there are 25 multinationals operating in the county employing 11,042 people. It is most encouraging that despite recent global concern these jobs have steadily increased over the last 10 years. Specifically, Wyeth's investment of over €24 million in the establishment of a new Pharmaceutical Development Centre at its Wyeth Medica Ireland facility in Newbridge is a very positive sign of confidence in the area. It will create 20 high-calibre R&D positions over three years for people with PhD, MSc and BSc qualifications. The new Centre will be at the forefront of Wyeth's development pipeline and will assist Newbridge in attracting a significant number of the new products coming out of the corporate R&D pipeline.

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