Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 28 Oct 1993

Vol. 435 No. 2

Written Answers. - Unemployment Statistics.

Ivor Callely

Question:

65 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Enterprise and Employment the number and age category of people on the live register available for work for over 12 months, 24 months and 36 months; the measures, if any, he will introduce to assist the long term unemployed to obtain work; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Enterprise and Employment (Mr. Quinn)

The latest age-by-duration analysis of the live register refers to 23 April 1993. The number and age category of people who were signing on the Register at that time is set out in the following table:

Age	Duration of Continuous Registration
12 months and over	24 months and over	36 months and over
Under 20 years	4,215	626	190
20-24 years	22,789	12,234	6,015
25-34 years	38,574	24,575	16,298
35-44 years	34,819	24,934	18,456
45-54 years	23,637	17,742	13,516
55-59 years	5,735	3,958	2,870
60-64 years	2,333	1,359	967
Total	132,102	85,428	58,312

The total number of persons signing on the register for 12 months and over was 132,102 of which 85,428 were signing for two years or over. Of these 85,428 people on the register, 58,312 were signing for three years or more.

Tackling unemployment is the number one priority of this Government. The policy response to the current unemployment situation is as set out in the Programme for a Partnership Government and theNational Development Plan 1994-1999. The Programme for a Partnership Government contains a list of inter-linked measures designed to, encourage and support enterprise, develop the skills of our labour force and encourage local initiative through regional structures for enterprise. Detailed proposals on job creation strategies in all sectors of the economy are set out in the National Development Plan. In addition to the achievement of specific job creation targets, the plan contains, as one of its key elements, a significant local dimension to enterprise and employment creation.

The needs of those who find themselves unemployed long term are specifically catered for in a number of measures including the area-based initiative, which is co-ordinated by the Department of An Taoiseach, and the social employment scheme/community employment development programme which provides training and work experience for the long term unemployed. The SES/CEDP programme will provide opportunities for an average of 17,000 participants throughout the year with the end year participation figure reaching 20,500. I am hopeful that this level of participation will continue in 1994 increasing to 30,000 by the end of 1999.

Priority places on FÁS training courses are given to the long term unemployed and early school leavers.

While the existing arrangements do, therefore, recognise the particular needs of the long term unemployed these arrangements are under continuous review and they can be adapted in the light of experience.