Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 2 Mar 1999

Vol. 501 No. 3

Written Answers. - Local Employment Service.

Pat Rabbitte

Question:

110 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the progress of the local employment service in Tallaght, Dublin 24; the number of persons assisted as a proportion of those on the live register; the impact of out-centres of local employment schemes in areas of high unemployment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5876/99]

Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Ms Harney)

The Tallaght Local Employment Service (LES) Network was established in November 1995. It was among the first group of 14 LES areas and the service has subsequently been extended to a further eleven areas. Since its inception, the Tallaght LES has developed at a steady pace and has become a very valuable service for the unemployed in the Tallaght area. It currently operates from two local employment centres – Tallaght Village and Brookfield – and six contact points – Fettercairn, Jobstown, Ballycragh, Killinarden, Avonbeg, Kilnamanagh.

Since November 1995, the Tallaght LES has contacted a total of 3,816 people and 2,045 clients have formally registered for mediation services with the LES. These registrations can be broken down into the following categories:

Long-term unemployed	890
Unemployed greater than 6 months	366
Dependent Spouses	78
Lone Parents	338
Young Unemployed	117
Others (mainly ex-Packard workers)	256

Since November 1995, a total of 2,690 referrals have been made into jobs, work experience, training and education options. It should be noted that clients can have more than one referral.

The census of April 1996 showed that there were 5,500 unemployed people living in the Tallaght Partnership area. As of 19 February 1999 there was a total of 4,570 people receiving UA or UB at Tallaght Social Welfare Office. These figures provide a context against which the LES registrations can be viewed. The 2,045 LES registered clients would not necessarily be a sub-set of the total currently unemployed in Tallaght, as measured by the live register. Also, the catchment area covered by the Tallaght LES may not be exactly coterminous with that covered by the Tallaght Social Welfare Office. Therefore, it would not be meaningful to express the LES comulative caseload as a percentage of the current live register in the area.

The six contact points already mentioned have provided service to 5,378 people since the first office opened in February 1996. These clients fall into following categories:

Long-term Unemployed	2,351
Unemployed greater than 6 months	430
Lone Parents	1,613
Youth	530
Others	454

The contact points are providing services ranging from information and mediation, through jobs clubs, adult education, enterprise advice tocurriculum vitae preparation and assistance to former Packard workers.