Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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261. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if those who are in paid work for one hour per week are to be counted as being employed in the Government target of full employment by 2018; his plans to measure under-employment among those persons who wish to work longer hours but are not offered same; the target for living-wage employment; if he will publish figures for those employed but not in living-wage jobs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5927/15]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Three years ago the Government set a target of having an extra 100,000 people back at work by 2016. That target will now be delivered upon during 2015, over 12 months early. The live register has fallen for 38 months in a row since the crisis peak of 15.1% three years ago to 10.5% today. The latest Quarterly National Household Survey figures show that, for the year to end Q3 2014, the numbers of people in employment increased by 27,700, of which 94% was full-time employment. The Government is determined that this progress continues so that full employment can be achieved by 2018.

While it is very encouraging that 94% of new jobs being created are full-time, in accordance with the Statement of Government priorities, Minister Bruton has commissioned a study into the prevalence of zero hour and low hour contracts and the impact of such contracts on employees. The key objectives of the study are:

- To fill the gap that currently exists in terms of the hard data and information that is available concerning the prevalence of zero hour and low hour contracts in the Irish economy and the manner of their use.

- To assess the impact of zero hour and low hour contract on employees.

- To enable the Minister to make any evidence-based policy recommendations to Government considered necessary on foot of the study.

All sectors of the economy, both public and private, will come within the scope of the study, and a wide range of stakeholders will be canvassed to contribute to it. It is expected that the study will be completed within six months of commencement.