Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 101: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the net number of jobs being created on a weekly basis in the economy; the extent to which this varies with corresponding periods in each of the past five years; her proposals to improve the situation and restore job creation, competitiveness and confidence in the economy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44925/08]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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Employment and unemployment are measured by the Quarterly National Household Survey (QNHS) and published by the Central Statistics Office. Statistics are available on a quarterly basis only. The latest quarterly data indicates that there were 2,120,800 in employment in Quarter 3 2008, a fall of 25,200 on the corresponding period in 2007. This release also indicates that unemployment had increased by 53,300 in the same period. The difference between the two figures relate to an increase in the Total Labour Force of 28,100. The table hereunder sets out numbers in employment at Quarter 3 for the years 2003-2008 and indicates that employment increased by 284,400 over the five year period. While the rate of employment growth is slowing, it must be viewed in the context of historically unprecedented numbers of people in work. Since 1997, over half a million new jobs have been created in Ireland and the number in employment still exceeds 2.1 million.

FÁS and the Department of Social and Family Affairs are working together so they can respond quickly to the increase in unemployment. As regards employment and job search services, I have provided FÁS with €4 million to subsidise the employment of redundant apprentices in 2009. FÁS has, with the Local Employment Services provided by Area-Based Partnerships, geared up its Employment Services further to provide increased capacity for expected increased referrals from the Live Register.

FÁS has also put in place a series of actions to facilitate redundant apprentices in completing their studies. Among these include redundant apprentices being allowed to progress to their next off-the-job phase of training without having to do the next on-the-job phase. FÁS has specific mechanisms in place to deal with redundancies and/or company closures. It offers a tailored approach as early as possible to the workers affected with a view to assisting them to access alternative employment.

In relation to training for those who become unemployed, I have given FÁS an additional €5 million for training the unemployed and FÁS will increase total training places in 2009. FÁS will also be providing a range of certified, short, flexible, modular programmes in construction sector activities that are expected to remain buoyant, despite the slowdown in construction. FÁS has also established a training fund to enable a speedy response to identified re-training needs, for low skilled and redundant craft workers. In 2009 FÁS will open evening classes to people who are unemployed without payment of a fee.

We are fully committed to strengthening the competitiveness and productive capacity of the economy. Our priority remains the creation of high quality, sustainable employment, driven by companies with higher profitability that are technologically advanced and prove a better fit with the competitive characteristics of our economy.

My Department and its Agencies have a vital part to play ensuring that the country is well-positioned to progress when circumstances improve. One of the main tasks is to ensure that Ireland remains an attractive place to do business.

To underpin long-term competitiveness, my objective is to ensure that we build up the productive capacity of the economy through investing in people. I am doing this directly through the Skills Strategy. We will continue to pursue policies to promote lifelong learning and up-skilling to improve labour market flexibility and, where necessary, ensure that appropriate training supports are provided for workers in sectors that are no longer competitive, should they need to find alternative employment.

Creating the best framework conditions to enable innovation to flourish, which in turn leads to increased productivity and competitiveness, will continue to guide our overall policy approach to tackling the competitiveness challenges ahead. There are a number of key policies, which the Government is implementing to maintain and enhance our competitiveness and to invest for the future. The National Skills Strategy, the Strategy for Science, Technology & Innovation (SSTI) and the National Development Plan will ensure Ireland remains a key location for leading edge research and development, and the quality jobs it can deliver. Achieving higher growth rates in productivity than our competitor countries will be important for international competitiveness and securing sustainable wage growth.