Liz O'Donnell
Question:18 Ms O'Donnell asked the Minister for Enterprise and Employment if he will report on the uptake of the Jobstart Programme for the long-term unemployed since its commencement four weeks ago. [13650/96]
Written Answers. - Jobstart Programme.
Ivor Callely
Question:22 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Enterprise and Employment the number of persons that have been considered for Jobstart and Workplace schemes; the benefits, if any, that are likely to develop from such schemes; the matters of concern, if any, that have been brought to his attention; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13581/96]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 18 and 22 together.
Both Jobstart and Workplace are new programmes which I launched at the end of May. The objective of Jobstart is to increase the number of jobs filled in the economy by the long-term unemployed against a background where such persons are often by passed when it comes to job selection. Workplace is a work experience programme aimed at placing unemployed people with employers on a trial basis with no obligation about subsequent recruitment.
Up to 5,000 opportunities will be available on an ongoing basis under both of these programmes and I am confident these opportunities will prove significant for unemployed people in their efforts to enter or re-enter the workforce. It is too early to provide statistics on the specific take up rate of either of these programmes but the projected take up rate by the end of the year is set at 2,000 for Workplace and between 1,200 and 1,500 for Jobstart.
While some concerns have been expressed the Jobstart may be abused, the terms of the programme have been agreed with IBEC, ICTU and the INOU and agreed monitoring procedures have been put in place to ensure that any abuses that may arise will be quickly dealt with.