Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - New Jobs in Building Industry.
- Employment Incentive Scheme Jobs 10 speeches
The Minister reported premiums paid for 1,228 building-industry jobs, with applications for another 472 under review; across the expanded scheme, 9,140 jobs were recorded, including about 3,528 for young people. Mitchell praised O'Leary's role in creating the scheme, while the Minister credited its expansion, particularly into services, for much of the youth-employment improvement.
Michael O'Leary, Gene Fitzgerald, Niall Andrews, Garrett Fitzgerald, Jim Mitchell
- Insurance Cards for Scheme Employees 2 speeches
The Minister confirmed that young people employed under the programme have their insurance cards stamped.
Jim Mitchell, Garrett Fitzgerald
asked the Minister for Labour the number of new jobs created in the building industry as a result of the inclusion of the construction industry in the employment incentive scheme.
Comment on this
Up to 24 November 1978 premiums under the employment incentive scheme had been paid in respect of 1,228 new jobs in the building industry and applicants in respect of a further 472 new jobs are at present under examination.
Comment on this
The scheme has been successful since its extension to the services sector. The total figure up to 24 November was 9,140 as compared with a total of 2,698 for the ten months of 1977. Of the youth job seekers in that 9,140, approximately 3,528 are school leavers.
Comment on this
Would the Minister accept that the scheme introduced by Deputy O'Leary when he was Minister has been very successful?
Comment on this
For the Deputy's information, I should point out that the extension of the scheme to the services sector, the building construction industry and the hotel and catering industry has meant a tremendous improvement in the assistance of this scheme. For example, the figures on the youth side for the period 1 January to 24 November 1978 are 3,528, whereas the comparable number of young people assisted under the entire scheme for the ten months of 1977 was 682. That proves the importance of the extension to the services sector in the assistance of youth employment.
Comment on this
Will the Minister accept that much of the improvement, such as it is, in the register of unemployment has been achieved through the employment incentive scheme? Would he be gracious enough to concede that the idea was Deputy Michael O'Leary's and not his?
Comment on this
I discount what the Deputy says in relation to jobs for young people. The improvement in aiding youth employment is mainly due to the extension of the scheme to the services sector.