Martin Ferris (Kerry North, Sinn Fein)
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Question 52: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the extent of job losses over the past six months; the number of replacement jobs created in the same period; the action taken by her to stem the loss of jobs within this time period; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27103/09]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The total number of people on the Live Register for June 2009 was 418,600, an increase of over 90,700 since January of this year. The most recent seasonally adjusted Live Register Standardised Unemployment Rate for June stands at 11.9%. However, I would also point out that in the twelve-month period to the end of May 2009, 144,000 people left the Live Register as they had secured employment. This is important as it shows that jobs are still being created.

My Department records the number of redundancies notified to them on a monthly basis. From January to June 2009 the number of actual redundancies received under the Redundancy Scheme stands at 42,724. Of these 29,385 were male and 13,339 were female. Unemployment is measured by the Quarterly National Household Survey which is published by the Central Statistics Office. In the first quarter of 2009, the most recent quarter for which data is available, there were 222,800 persons unemployed.

Employment data in respect of companies supported by the Enterprise Agencies (Enterprise Ireland, IDA Ireland, Shannon Development and the County and City Enterprise Boards) is collated on an annual basis only, and accordingly monthly figures cannot be supplied. The number of full-time jobs created in firms assisted by these Agencies in 2008 was about 21,500.

The Enterprise Development agencies under the aegis of my Department are working closely in order to maintain an integrated approach to investment and enterprise development. The strategies and policies being pursued by the State Development agencies will continue to support enterprise development and bring about job creation throughout the country.