Liam Burke
Question:33 Mr. L. Burke asked the Minister for Enterprise and Employment if he intends to draw up a new scheme to tackle the unemployment problem in clearly identified black-spots.
Written Answers. - Scheme to Tackle Unemployment.
Twelve areas for the area-based response to long term unemployment outlined in Section VII of the Programme for Economic and Social Progress were selected in 1991 by the Government, on the recommendation of the Central Review Committee. The selection of areas took account of factors such as the extent of unemployment, particularly long term unemployment, the need to have a wide geographical and urban-rural spread and the existence of structures and activities already in the areas on which the area-based response could build.
I have arranged for an examination based on a range of indicators to be undertaken with a view to establishing further Area Partnership Companies in location with similar socio-economic profiles to the existing Programme for Economic and Social Progress sponsored Partnerships.
As part of the ongoing review and evaluation of the operation of the existing companies one of the options to be considered might be a redefinition of their geographical boundaries.
Through both of these mechanisms and with the prospect of support funding via the National Development Plan 1994-1999, I would hope to be in a position to indicate the establishment of Area Partnership Companies in a number of new areas later this year.