Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will outline the impact on the Labour Market of the increased levels of emigration experienced since this Government came to power. [51887/12]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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The most recent official figures from the CSO are for the year ended April 2012. Emigration from Ireland in the twelve months to April 2012 is estimated to have increased to 87,100 from 80,600 in the year to April 2011, while the number of immigrants is estimated to have fallen marginally to 52,700 from 53,300 over the same period. The combined effect of natural increase and negative net migration resulted in an overall small increase in the population of 10,500 bringing the population estimate to 4.59 million in April 2012.

These figures indicate that net emigration (emigration less immigration) of 34,400 took place in this period. This compares with a figure of 27,400 in the previous year, before the present government took office.

The impact of migration on the size of the labour force depends on a range of factors including, for example, the age at which people migrate and whether they are of working age.

Allowing for these factors, it is estimated that the impact of migration in the year ended April 2012 was to reduce the size of the labour force by between 20,000 and 25,000 below the level it would have reached in the absence of migration.

The Government is tackling unemployment and the stabilisation of the employment rate through the twin strategies of the Action Plan for Jobs and Pathways to Work, which are together complemented by measures to ensure individuals are appropriately educated and trained to be able to avail of those job opportunities. The aim of the Action Plan for Jobs is to support the creation of 100,000 net new jobs by 2016, while the objective of Pathways to Work is to provide those who are unemployed with the appropriate training and skills to avail of the job opportunities which will arise as the economy recovers.

The Government is committed to supporting over 85,000 job placements, work experience and Back to Education beneficiaries in 2012, including through the JobBridge internship programme. These and other measures have been devised to enable young people to get access to a first job - although they are not restricted to young people but can also assist those who have become unemployed and are at risk of becoming long term unemployed.

Measures to combat unemployment also include general supports for self-employment/small business start-up – such as the Back to Work Enterprise Allowance, entrepreneurship training, and advisory and financial support through local County Enterprise Boards. Many young people will benefit from these opportunities. In addition, over 450,000 education and training places will be provided in the higher education, further education and training sectors. These places will include provision for school leavers, although the long-term unemployed are a priority target.