The Programme for a Partnership Government indicated that a new programme would be introduced to provide opportunities for about 30,000 long term unemployed people. I am delighted to say that the Community Employment Programme, which was introduced in April of this year, has a target participation level by year end of 40,000. There were 32,865 on the programme at the end of September and I am optimistic that the target of 40,000 will be reached.
In addition the Government has set up a task force to develop specific proposals arising out of the recent report of the National Economic and Social Forum on the long term unemployed. This task force is to report by 30 November and I have no doubt that the Government will move expeditiously to take decisions on foot of the task force's eventual recommendations.
Nonetheless we cannot be complacent. The level of unemployment generally and particularly the level of long term unemployment remains at an unacceptable level. The efforts of the Government will be directed at creating the conditions which will allow the continuation of the uptake in the economy which has been evident over the past number of months.