Bernard J. Durkan
Question:33 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Welfare the number of persons on long term unemployment assistance who have secured employment in the past two years; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Long-term Unemployed.
The information requested by the Deputy is not available. While certain data on the composition of inflows to the live register is being compiled by my Department, it is not possible to compile data on the reasons underlying outflows. The live register monthly flow analysis published by the Central Statistics Office gives data on outflows. These data are derived from the stock and inflow data. There are a number of reasons people sign off the register including securing employment, return to home duties, emigration etc. It is not possible for my Department to differentiate between these groups or to provide outflow data by duration of unemployment.
I am of course concerned that the long term unemployed should be facilitated in every way in obtaining employment. While training and job creation are of course outside the ambit of my Department, we have a variety of initiatives in place designed to help the long term unemployed by allowing them to attend courses of education at second and third level and still receive an allowance equivalent to their unemployment payments. These initiatives derive from the results of surveys which indicate that there is a link between being long term unemployed and poor educational attainments.