The inter-departmental group set up to deal with job losses in Donegal will hold its first meeting this week, the Dáil was told.
Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Micheál Martin conceded that there had been "significant" job losses in the county in recent years. He said he had asked the group to report back to him as a matter of urgency.
"The group's terms of reference are to identify the various local issues posing barriers to the establishment and operation of enterprises, take stock of relevant projects and actions already under way, or planned, and identify measures that could be taken by the relevant departments and agencies to support the environment for enterprise development and quantify the resources required," he added.
He said that support for job-creation in Donegal would continue to remain a priority for the State development agencies under the auspices of his department.
Replying to Dinny McGinley (FG, Donegal South-West), the Minister said that while the Central Statistics Office did not provide information on unemployment rates on a county-by-county basis, the quarterly national household survey showed an unemployment rate of 4.9 per cent for the Border region in the second quarter of this year. Bearing in mind that unemployment in 1995 stood at 11.4 per cent, this represented a very significant positive development, he added.
Meanwhile, Fine Gael spokesman Phil Hogan challenged the Minister to disclose the reason for the delay in bringing forward legislation to establish the National Consumer Agency.
Mr Martin said that, given the scope of the legislation required, its preparation would take time. "It is my expectation, however, that the legislation will be published in the latter half of next year and that the agency will be up and running early in 2007," he said.
"In the meantime, I have appointed a board to the agency to act in an interim capacity. Since its appointment, it has been active in putting the consumer's case on issues such as the debate on the Groceries Order. I am confident that the interim board will continue to be a forceful advocate for consumers in ensuring their voices are heard."
