The human faces behind the record budget surplus being forecast by the Minister for Finance, Mr McCreevy, emerged last Monday with details of those at work in this State. The number of persons employed was estimated to have grown by 95,000 in the year between April 1997, and the second quarter of 1998. At the same time, the number of unemployed persons fell by an estimated 32,000 to 126,600. At first sight, those national household survey figures would suggest that up to 95,000 more people are paying government taxes, while 32,000 fewer persons are drawing the dole. But nothing is ever simple where statistics are concerned. The figure of 95,000 extra people at work includes many peripheral, part-time employees; while the numbers out of work - at 126,600 - contrasts bleakly with the figure of 219,000 drawing the dole on the live register.
Notwithstanding such reservations, it is clear the economy is powering ahead and that the tax contributions made by our growing workforce and by the companies they sustain, will enable the Coalition Government to shape a more equitable and caring society in today's Budget. More people at work, a steady rise in the number of returned emigrants and reports of an increasing birth rate, are all positive indicators. But negative signals are also emerging in terms of traffic gridlock, shortages of skilled workers and growing evidence of the emergence of a two-tier, uncaring society.
Our physical infrastructure, particularly railways and roads, are totally inadequate. And there are serious shortfalls in terms of sewage, water-treatment works and electricity supply. The Government is aware of such inadequacies and has responded by increasing the capital allocation in the Estimates. But much more needs to be done, both in terms of direct State funding and through a private investment programme. In all of this, good planning is paramount. Rapidly falling levels of unemployment and growing shortages of skilled labour raises the question of sustainable employment. Should the Government decide to limit economic growth in certain circumstances? What kind of industry and employment should be favoured? And what steps should be taken to make our society more inclusive? A public debate should be initiated on these matters.
A recent OECD report pointed to a functional illiteracy rate of up to 25 per cent in Irish society (people being unable to read labels on medicines or fill in forms) and this malaise clearly has its roots in the national school system. For a people who take pride in our contribution to English literature and in our image as good conversationalists, this is a scandalous situation. Irish functional illiteracy levels are 50 per cent higher than in other developed countries. And those affected are three times more likely to be out of work than their peers. In a modern, computer-based society, such a waste of human resources cannot be tolerated, if only because of the threat the marginalised and the disaffected pose to the general health of society. We have lived too long with the lie of a top-quality primary school system. The issue of quality in education must be addressed as a priority. And vested interests must be encouraged to co-operate or else confronted in the broader interests of society. Long-term unemployment is being eroded by economic growth. Quality of life, in terms of functional literacy, should now become a key government priority.