Arthur Morgan (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Question 178: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of jobs lost and the number of jobs created in the past 12 months or the latest period for which figures are available; the number of jobs lost and the number of jobs created since the introduction of the employment subsidy scheme in August 2009; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36844/09]

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 on a quarterly basis only. In the second quarter of 2009, the most recent quarter for which data is available, there was an annual decrease in employment of 174,300 or 8.2% while unemployment increased by 137,900 over the same period. Employment data in respect of companies supported by the Enterprise Agencies (Enterprise Ireland, IDA Ireland and Shannon Development) is collated by Forfás on an annual basis only, and accordingly monthly or weekly figures cannot be supplied. In 2008 a total of 20,014 full-time jobs were created in companies supported by the Enterprise Agencies, while 28,885 full-time jobs were lost in the same year – a net loss for 2008 of 8,871.

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 table sets out the number of redundancy notifications received in 2008 and to end September, 2009, the most recent date for which figures are available. The Employment Subsidy Scheme (Temporary) applies to vulnerable but viable companies in the manufacturing or internationally traded service sectors. It will involve the payment of a subsidy to firms to retain an agreed level of jobs. After the deadline of the 4th September, Enterprise Ireland who are managing the scheme, received 561 eligible applications seeking employment subsidies for 9,130 jobs. Enterprise Ireland are considering these applications.

Actual Redundancies 2008 - 2009 broken down by month

Arthur Morgan (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Question 179: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of jobs that have been subsidised under the employment subsidy scheme; the number of jobs that have been saved under the employment subsidy scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36845/09]

Arthur Morgan (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Question 180: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment her plans to extend the employment subsidy scheme to indigenous small and medium enterprises that fall outside the remit of Enterprise Ireland; her further plans to change eligibility criteria in order that non-export orientated companies can avail of this scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36846/09]

Arthur Morgan (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Question 181: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of applications received for the employment subsidy scheme; the breakdown of applications into the number of people employed by the company; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36847/09]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 179 to 181, inclusive, together.

The Employment Subsidy Scheme (Temporary) applies to vulnerable but viable companies in the manufacturing or internationally traded service sectors. It will involve the payment of a subsidy to firms to retain an agreed level of jobs. The principal aim of the Scheme is to maximise full-time employment in the first place by securing a multiple of jobs being subsidised. After the deadline of the 4th September, Enterprise Ireland who are managing the scheme, received 561 eligible applications seeking employment subsidies for 9,130 jobs. Enterprise Ireland are currently considering these applications and it is therefore not possible to provide a more detailed breakdown at this time. The scheme and its criteria will be reviewed in the near future and I will then consider whether to broaden the terms of the scheme.

Arthur Morgan (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Question 182: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the initiatives being taken by her to upskill workers and managers; the initiatives being taken by her to support skills development in small businesses; the initiatives she is taking to develop an intervention body tasked to pre-empt job losses and offer mentoring and advice to struggling companies; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36848/09]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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FÁS Services to Business supports skills development in small businesses through the Excellence Through People standard which has been running for several years. FÁS Employment Services recently announced the Work Placement Programme which is designed to offer unemployed people, including unemployed graduates, the opportunity to obtain 6 months quality experience in a work situation. The benefit to employers is that they will, by giving someone the opportunity to gain work experience in their field, ensure the future supply of qualified and experienced people for their business or sector. Additionally, should a position become available within the business, they would have a prospective applicant with relevant work experience.

The Skillnets Training Network Programme is an enterprise-led programme providing training, upskilling and networking supports to persons in employment with a particular emphasis on the low basic skilled and on SMEs. In 2008 the Training Network Programme facilitated over 56,000 trainees in over 20,000 enterprises. It currently operates nationally across 103 separate sectoral and regional networks. In 2009 the Finuas Training Network Programme was launched to provide similar supports in the international financial services sector.

County and City Enterprise Boards provide a source of support to small businesses with 10 employees or fewer. Subject to certain eligibility criteria new and developing enterprises may qualify for financial support from the CEBs in the form of feasibility, employment and capital grants. All of the CEBs operate to the same criteria in relation to the assistance which they can offer i.e. they can support the establishment and/or the development of enterprises provided that the projects, which should generally be in the manufacturing and internationally traded services sector, have the capacity to achieve commercial viability and which over time may develop into strong exporting entities. CEBs also deliver a range of non-financial supports, such as business advice and information services, management development programmes and mentoring initiatives, which are designed to help new and existing micro-enterprises operate more effectively and efficiently so as to last and grow.

The Employment Subsidy Scheme (Temporary) which is being managed by Enterprise Ireland, applies to vulnerable but viable companies in the manufacturing or internationally traded service sectors. It will involve the payment of a subsidy to firms to retain an agreed level of jobs. The principal aim of the Scheme is to maximise full-time employment in the first place by securing a multiple of jobs being subsidised. A further initiative both my colleague Minister Hanafin and I launched on the 27th May is the Short Time Working Training Programme. This new initiative offers individuals the opportunity to receive training that suits their specific requirements. With individuals who are on short time working, this Programme will provide two days training a week for 277 workers over a 52-week period.