asked the Minister for Industry, Trade, Commerce and Tourism if he accepts the IDA projection of 1,000 new manufacturing jobs for 1984 is totally unacceptable and inadequate in view of the unemployment emergency that exists today; and the action he proposes to take to rectify the matter.

There is no such projection. It is expected that between 11,000 and 12,000 new first time jobs will be created by the industrial development agencies in 1984.

Targets for the net growth in manufacturing employment are being considered by the Government at present in the context of the White Paper on Industrial Policy. It is expected that the White Paper will be published within the next month.

Do I understand the Minister to say that there was never a projection within the IDA of 1,000 new manufacturing jobs?

The projection the Deputy is referring to was not the one as put in his question but rather a projection for net job creation, taking the number of new jobs created and subtracting from that the number of job losses. The figure of 1,000 may have appeared in that context but, as I have indicated, the expected figure for new manufacturing jobs is between 11,000 and 12,000.

Does the Minister accept that a net figure of 1,000 new manufacturing jobs is sufficient to meet the unemployment crisis?

I am not to be interpreted as accepting that. The Deputy's question was misconstrued because he based it on new manufacturing jobs whereas there was a different reference he should have made.

The Minister is playing with words. Is he aware that the chief executive of the IDA gave the figures I am talking about on a "Public Account" programme but since, as the Minister says, the figures are not acceptable to him, has he directed the IDA to revise their projections in respect of the creation of manufacturing employment?

At the risk of repeating myself, the figure as quoted by the Deputy is incorrect.

I am referring to what the chief executive said.

It is of considerable importance that in matters such as these the wording is correct. I do not accept that a performance which merely allowed the creation of 1,000 jobs in industry more than the number lost in a given year would be satisfactory. I would not accept that as a target and I have conveyed that view to the IDA.

As a consequence of that, have they reviewed their targets?

They will be dealt with in the White Paper to which I referred.

13.