Michael Creed
Question:175 Mr. Creed asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the proposals his Department has to prevent long-term unemployment of older workers and to integrate older persons into the labour market. [29871/00]
Vol. 528 No. 2
175 Mr. Creed asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the proposals his Department has to prevent long-term unemployment of older workers and to integrate older persons into the labour market. [29871/00]
As part of its employment support services my Department maintains contact with agencies, organisations and groups in the state and community sectors with a view to offering the widest possible choice of options to unemployed people, including older persons, who wish to re-enter the active labour market.
My Department's jobs facilitators would be aware of the range of labour market programmes, educational opportunities and other similar supports which are available, in addition to the supports provided directly by my Department such as the back to work allowance and back to education scheme. Referral to the local employment service is one of the options considered by the jobs facilitators and the Department's local office staff where it is considered appropriate.
There is, in addition, 1,000 ring-fenced places on the back to work allowance scheme for the very long-term unemployed (five years plus) which benefit those in the older age group who can be disproportionately represented in this category.