Tom Kitt
Question:17 Mr. T. Kitt asked the Minister for Enterprise and Employment the Government's response to the National Economic and Social Forum's Opinion on Long-term Unemployed Initiatives launched on Tuesday 7, May 1996. [9598/96]
Written Answers. - NESF Report on Long-term Unemployment Initiatives.
Charlie McCreevy
Question:23 Mr. McCreevy asked the Minister for Enterprise and Employment his views on the recent NESF report on long-term unemployment initiatives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11588/96]
Mary O'Rourke
Question:112 Mrs. O'Rourke asked the Minister for Enterprise and Employment his views on the NESF opinion document on long-term unemployment; the plans, if any, he intends to take on foot of that document; and when the local employment service will operate on a nationwide basis. [13736/96]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 17, 23 and 112 together.
I assume the Deputies are referring to the NESF Opinion No. 3 April 1996 concerning long-term unemployment initiatives. I have already expressed a welcome for this NESF opinion and I commented in detail on its content in reply to questions in this House on 16 May last. I am circulating with this answer a copy of my reply from 16 May.
The problem of unemployment is a priority for this Government. I assure the Deputies that the special measures, including the local employment service, which we have targeted at the unemployed are being closely monitored by my officials and the relevant agencies and the issues and concerns raised in the NESF opinion will obviously influence our ongoing strategy against unemployment.
In relation to the local employment service. I have already informed this House on a number of occasions that the service should first be consolidated in the original 14 areas and an assessment then carried out before we consider undertaking further expansion. I will shortly be taking a memorandum to Government which will report on the development of the service to date and will propose that the assessment which I mentioned should commence in the autumn and be finalised by the end of this year.