asked the Minister for Social Welfare the number of jobs created under the various Jobsearch pilot schemes; and if he will give these numbers on a regional basis.
40.
Written Answers. - Jobsearch Programme.
35.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the number of persons who have so far been interviewed under the Jobsearch programme; the number of persons who have been placed in (a) jobs and (b) training schemes.
I propose to take Question Nos. 35 and 40 together.
The pilot Jobsearch programme operated in three locations around the country namely, Letterkenny, Limerick and Tallaght. It commenced in September 1986 and continued up to March 1987.
The pilot programme was designed to give selected groups of people intensive coaching in job seeking techniques and it made available to them extensive facilities to put the training into practice in placing themselves in employment. I should emphasise here that the purpose of the Jobsearch pilot programme was not one of job creation, as is implied by the questions, but to help the long term unemployed by giving them skills and facilities which would assist them in looking for jobs.
I am glad to say that this objective was achieved. A survey of a substantial number of participants showed that over 80 per cent believed that the course was worthwhile and 76 per cent felt more confident about looking for a job. A number of people identified self-employment opportunities while others got jobs; 516 people were interviewed in connection with the pilot programme; 340 of these were listed for the programme with 219 being admitted to the course and 207 completed the course. Eleven got long term jobs and five short term jobs. Of the 11 persons who found long term employment eight were in Tallaght, one in Limerick and two in Letterkenny. In addition 236 people were placed on other schemes or courses. Of those interviewed 69 ceased claiming and there is no indication as to how many of these got jobs or were already in employment.
Like the pilot programme the Jobsearch programme announced in the budget is not designed to directly create jobs. It is concentrated on the long term unemployed. Its main purpose is to be of personal assistance to those who are six months or more on the live register in their search for work. As the Deputies may already be aware from public statements I have made to date, the programme provides that by the end of December next 150,000 of those on the live register will have been referred by my Department to the National Manpower Service for interview. The purpose of this interview is to help them to assess their strengths and weaknesses as potential employees and to assist in the search for work. Those for whom it is not possible to find employment immediately are considerd for 40,000 manpower scheme opportunities and 12,000 places on Jobsearch courses. These are four week courses operated by AnCO and are designed to help the participant to improve his or her ability to search for employment.
Figures available to date show that up to week ended 8 May 1987 a total of 9,827 people were interviewed under the programme. Of these a total of 1,547 were referred to employment-training schemes and programmes (995) and to job vacancies (552). To date 310 have been placed in schemes and programmes and 88 have been placed in jobs.
In addition 484 have been placed in Jobsearch courses.