asked the Minister for Industry, Commerce and Tourism the number of jobs created by exploitation of our natural resources since 5 July 1977 and if he will make a statement on the matter.

A number of Ministers have responsibility in regard to the exploitation of our natural resources. In this area, my responsibility is confined to the promotion of manufacturing industry using native raw materials.

The development of industries based on exploitation of our natural resources is a fundamental part of overall industrial strategy and both the IDA and SFADCo., in the exercise of their promotional powers, encourage the maximum use of native raw materials. While the IDA's annual reports give a broad sectoral breakdown of jobs approved, it is not possible to provide more precise information on the number of jobs created by exploitation of our natural resources, as many firms across a wide range of sectoral activity will use both native and imported, raw and semi-processed, materials to some degree and in varying proportions.

Furthermore, our natural resources are so varied and diverse, deriving from the land and its sub-strata, from the sea and from the air, that statistics on the basis outlined in the question would be impossible to maintain.

Put that to music.

Is the Minister aware that in the manifesto of 1977 there was a specific undertaking concerning the creation of jobs in this area? Is the Minister now saying that he does not know how many jobs are being created by the exploitation of natural resources or that he cannot or is not prepared to give us this information? Has his Department any idea of the number of jobs created from this resource?

The reply I gave refers to manufacturing industry which is our particular responsibility in the Department. A number of other Ministries have responsibility for the exploitation of natural resources, for example, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and Energy. The statistics involved go across the whole spectrum of manufacturing industry. There is a long list of job approvals in various sectors for 1977, 1978 and 1979. I can give it to the Deputy by way of letter if he so requires. In the IDA five-year plan for the development of industry and for job targets they have a specific area where industries using natural resources as raw material are referred to. They are above target at present and aim to provide 5,000 new jobs in manufacturing industry over the next ten years and refer to the fact that about 1,800 new jobs could be created in timber harvesting and processing by 1985. The ratio in manufacturing industry to service industry is about 1.1 : 1.4 so that for every job in manufacturing there is about one or one-and-a-half jobs in service.

I did not ask the Minister for targets but for jobs created by the Government since 1977 as outlined in the Fianna Fáil manifesto.

As I have already said we are above target within the plans of the IDA.

The Ministers has given no indication that we are above target. He told me that the list was so long he would have to give it to me by letter——

This is argument.

I am asking the Minister for the number of jobs created by the Government since 1977. That information has not been forthcoming. Would the Minister please tell the House what number of jobs have been created in that area?

Deputy O'Donoghue's and five Ministers of State.

The IDA and SFADCo are committed to the promotion of industries using native raw materials

What about Fianna Fáil?

For example, they deal with beef, timber, dairying, fish, zinc, oil and gas industries. There are no statistics available on job creation in this area. Such statistics as are available are broken down on a broad sectoral basis, for example, food, wood and furniture, clothing and footwear and so on. It is not possible to distinguish further between firms using all or some degree of native raw materials and those using imported or semi-processed materials. In the wood and furniture area the same firm will often use some native and some imported timber. As I said there is a long list of figures I can give the Deputy. If he wants them now I will give them to him or if he prefers I shall send them to him.

I am seeking information on the specific job creation programme as undertaken in the Fianna Fáil manifesto. The Minister is not prepared to give me the information.

Would the Minister not agree that in view of the statement in the document that Deputy O'Toole has referred to there were tens of thousands of jobs only waiting to be created, specifically in the field of processing of zinc and other raw materials native to this country? The Minister's reply is petty and on the defensive. He has trotted out at machine gun speed a lot of flowery flummery from the IDA.

Thirty thousand fewer people unemployed at the end of 1978.

Tens of thousands of jobs only waiting to be created. Where is the zinc? Where is the smelter the Coalition were hauled over the coals for not producing?

There are 30,000 fewer unemployed.

The target was 55,000.

There were 160,000 unemployed.

The Deputy had better wait until Thursday.

We understated the figures but they are now being overstated——

The Minister was a teacher and he should go back and learn simple arithmetic.

Regarding the section in the Fianna Fáil manifesto in relation to natural resources, would the Minister indicate, to clarify the non-answer which has emerged on the floor of the House and which is in the Official Report, whether he regards the reference in the manifesto as including all the categories of employment to which his reply has addressed itself or do the words "natural resources" confine themselves to offshore oil and gas and minerals such as zinc?

We cannot confine it to offshore oil or gas. Grass is one of our resources.

The Minister has forgotten about hot air.

Is the Deputy suggesting that our beef industry which depends on good grass——

Would the Minister agree that that section of the manifesto is totally meaningless? It applies to every category including grass.

As I said they refer to such matters as beef, timber, dairying, zinc, oil, gas and so on. All factors are taken into account——

Grass is a great resource.

It is a marvellous one.

The Minister should go out to grass.

I wish to raise this matter on the Adjournment.

I shall communicate with the Deputy.