Vol. 418 No. 1
175 Mr. Stagg asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will have arrangements made to have job vacancies, which are currently posted in FÁS offices, posted in the local labour exchanges; and if he will make a free telephone available in the exchanges to facilitate job inquiries by the unemployed.
A pilot scheme was introduced last year in the social welfare services office in Cork whereby information on job vacancies and other FÁS information is on display in the public area using visual display units. This information unit is connected directly to the FÁS computer and shows the same information as that available in the FÁS office in Cork.
This arrangement is currently being examined with a view to extending the arrangement to other social welfare services offices. It would involve improved computerised links with FÁS at local level.
The potential for using a free phone facility in offices of my Department is under examination in the context of improving the links with FÁS.
I am keen to have the closest co-operation between Social Welfare and FÁS so as to provide the unemployed with every opportunity to secure work.
