Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 61: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the net number of jobs created or lost on a monthly basis in each of the past five years to date; her plans to address the issues arising therefrom; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13405/09]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The number of people in employment is measured by the Quarterly National Household Survey or QNHS and published by the Central Statistics Office. In the fourth quarter of 2008, the most recent quarter for which data is available, employment increased by 155,600 in the five-year period, while unemployment increased by 84,800 over the same period. The most recent data on employment levels in each of the past five years (on a year on year quarterly basis) are set out in the attached table.

Employment data in respect of companies supported by the Enterprise Agencies (Enterprise Ireland, IDA Ireland and Shannon Development) is collated on an annual basis only, and accordingly monthly figures cannot be supplied. The attached table sets out the number of full-time jobs created in enterprise agency assisted firms only, for the years 2004 to 2008.

There is no exact measure of the number of jobs lost, however, the Department records the number of redundancies notified to them on a monthly basis. The attached table sets out the number of redundancy notifications received on a monthly basis for the years 2004 to 2008.

The Government remains intent on achieving greater capacity within existing resources to meet the on-going challenges in the labour market. In this context we will continue to bring forward further measures to make training and education services available to a greater number of unemployed persons. The Government is also committed to pursuing a job creation strategy that focuses on strengthening our competitiveness, driving down the cost of doing business here and ensuring our return to sustainable export-led growth. My Department's enterprise development agencies will continue to play a key role in supporting companies in creating new job opportunities.

Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 62: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the contacts she has with the industrial development agencies with a view to securing alternative employment for the 1,100 workers who are due to lose their jobs at a company (details supplied) in County Dublin or to keep the facility operating as a going concern under different management; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13345/09]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The Government is anxious that as many jobs as possible are secured at Dublin Airport. We would like to see the SR Technics Group do what it can to facilitate this, such as helping to promote the capabilities and skills available at the Dublin facility, agreeing to an orderly wind down of the facility to give IDA Ireland an opportunity to promote the location to interested parties, and maintaining assets and equipment at the site for at least 6 months. I have conveyed these points, and the widespread concern in Ireland that every effort be made to maintain the maximum number of jobs at the facility at Dublin Airport, to SR Technics at Group level.

IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland have formed a project team to promote the operation through the IDA overseas network of offices and to meet with and assess expressions of interest in the operation. There are a number of expressions of interest from different parties in acquiring at least elements of the business and both IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland are actively exploring options with interested parties. Time is needed to assess these proposals by IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland. Actual involvement by IDA Ireland or Enterprise Ireland in providing financial or other supports will be dependent on a company or companies submitting proposals for consideration and seeking approval for State support in the normal way. The State Agencies will continue to engage with all groups, indigenous and overseas, interested in building commercially viable and sustainable operations to secure as many of the jobs as possible at Dublin Airport.