asked the Minister for Social Welfare the total number of persons (a) who left the live register voluntarily and (b) who were removed from the live register since the jobsearch programme was introduced.
16.
Ceisteanna—Question. Oral Answers. - Live Register.
9.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare, as a result of the operation of the Jobsearch programme, the number of people who have been removed from the live register; the number of people who have voluntarily decided not to continue to sign on for benefit; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 9 and 16 together.
The figures available up to the end of March 1989 show that up to 3,716 of those who have not availed of invitations to participate in the Jobsearch programme, since its introduction in April 1987, have had their cases reviewed resulting in disallowances under the Social Welfare Acts.
In addition some 32,700 have left the live register voluntarily in the context of the programme during the same period. A further 97,000 got places on mainline courses and social employment schemes and some 12,600 got jobs directly.
The purpose of the programme is to help those on the live register, especially the long term unemployed, to secure a job or a priority placement in a scheme or course administered by FÁS. I am satisfied from surveys that the programme has been very beneficial and widely accepted.
I think we will have to disagree about the purpose of the scheme but the effect of it is what I am concerned about. Can I ask the Minister how many people in all were either called for interview or asked to come forward in relation to the scheme? Is it the case that of those who were called about 10 per cent left voluntarily and, if so, can the Minister tell me if these people signed again or stayed outside the social welfare system? If they stayed outside the social welfare system were they working or claiming benefit?
I do not have the total figure because it was not asked for in the original question. With regard to the actual number who have been called to date, I know that in the first year the figure was set at approximately 150,000, and it turned out to be around 142,000. The next year added a further 50,000 or so to that figure because some of the others were coming back. There was nothing for them when they were called up in the first instance and they were seeking priority after that.
The Deputy made a point about the purpose of the scheme. I wish people could understand that this scheme for the first time gave priority to those who are on the register of unemployed for the mainline courses, social employment schemes and treatment generally. That is what is important to me as Minister for Social Welfare. I am very anxious to ensure that that process continues so that the people who are on the register get options. We have evidence to show that a large number of the people on the register were not getting the options and were being by-passed all the time.
The Government have now set out a programme to create at least 35,000 new jobs each year for the next five years. We know that 25,000 people are coming on to the market, for example, school leavers and others looking for jobs, and that there are 240,000 people on the register of unemployed. It is very important to me as Minister for Social Welfare that the options coming up are offered to the people who are on the register of unemployed. There is a tendency, and there is evidence to show this, to leave them on the register and in that sense it is a very important programme. The initial stages had a control effect in that there were people there who obviously were not available for work or whatever and they left voluntarily.
What were they doing? Were they claiming?
Yes, they were claiming up to that stage. The question of following individuals is another matter. Everything the Deputy mentioned involves a sizeable administrative undertaking, and this was a very sizeable one.
It is a huge sum.
It is.
May I ask a question on another angle? I have heard a lot of criticism of the content of the programme from those who participated in it. Has the Minister given any consideration as to how this might be improved or has any review taken place taking into account the views of those who have participated in the programme? Has the Minister any ideas for change which could be implemented in the future so as to improve the programme?
I want to ask Deputies to distinguish between two things — one is the programme and the other, which is what I think the Deputy is talking about, is the Jobsearch course. The programme includes all the options which are offered. The smallest number of people, 12,600, is going on the Jobsearch course. After the first year that course was reviewed by FÁS in the light of experience. We were very anxious to have the course reviewed and there was a number of things suggested which we felt would be helpful to people on that course. Some of those improvements have been made and the course is being improved on an ongoing basis. Basically the review is intended to be helpful and the course will be updated as it goes along.