Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 20 Nov 1996

Vol. 471 No. 7

Written Answers. - Local Employment Service.

Seán Haughey

Question:

361 Mr. Haughey asked the Minister for Enterprise and Employment the aims and objectives of the local employment service; if he will report on its operation in the Coolock and Darndale areas of Dublin; the plans, if any, he has to extend this service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22146/96]

Minister for Enterprise and Employment (Mr. R. Bruton)

The Local Employment Service (LES) was established initially in the 12 original partnership areas and two non-designated areas on the model as outlined in the Interim Report of the Task Force on Long-term Unemployment. The LES provides a range of services for certain categories of persons, in particular those who are long-term unemployed.

The aim of the service is to provide a gateway, or access point, to all the options which should be available to enable a long-term unemployed person return to the world of work. These options include guidance, training, education and employment support, as well as a job placement service.

The Northside LES now has two local employment centres in operation, one in Glin Road and the other in Greendale shopping centre where a one-to-one employment guidance and counselling service is available for LES clients. Three Job Clubs are operational in the area. The Job Clubs provide a meeting point for people who are actively looking for employment. By working together members can use the facilities of the Jobs Clubs to actively plan, seek and, hopefully, achieve realistic work opportunities. The three Job Clubs are located in the Northside Centre for the Unemployed, St. Monica's Youth Club, Edenmore and the FÁS Training Centre, Baldoyle. The LES also includes a network of Contact Points, where information, referral and registration services are available. Four Contact Points are already operating — in the FÁS office in Coolock, the FÁS Training Centre in Baldoyle, PARC in Bunratty Drive, Coolock and TARGET in Donaghmede. The intention is to establish Contact Points in Edenmore, Rosary College Adult Education Centre, St. Benedict's, Kilbarrack and Donneycarney.

The LES are also planning to establish a local Contact Point, initially on a one-day-a-week basis, in the Darndale area. The needs of the Darndale area will be assessed and the service will be enhanced if required. The target date for the establishment of this limited service is mid-December 1996. The development of the Darndale service was delayed until this time because of its proximity to the existing employment centre in Glin Road. A similar type service is also planned for the Kilmore and Moyclare areas.

The Government has already indicated its intention to expand the Local Employment Service nationwide on a phased basis. It is proposed to expand the service to four new areas in 1997. These areas will be determined on the basis of their relative deprivation, concentrating initially on large urban areas suffering the problems associated with high unemployment and drug abuse.