John Bruton
Question:64 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Taoiseach where the four territorial employment pacts are operating in Ireland; and the success, if any, in this regard. [22689/97]
Written Answers. - Employment Pacts.
The four areas in Ireland nominated to participate in a network of over 80 territorial employment pacts being set up across the member states of the European Union are: Dublin, all 11 partnership areas; Limerick city, PAUL partnership area; Westmeath, Westmeath Community Development area; and Drogheda-Dun-dalk, Dundalk employment partnership and Drogheda partnership areas.
The basic objective of territorial employment pacts is to encourage regional or local partnership in order to: mobilise available resources to develop an integrated strategy which is accepted by all parties, based on their needs and expressed in a formal commitment —"Territorial Employment Pact", identify the difficulties, concerns and future prospects facing each of the players with responsibility in the employment field, and put into effect employment schemes and measures which could serve as a model.
The Irish pacts are being organised initially through the area partnership companies in the selected areas whose board structures comprise the social partners, the statutory agencies and local community groups. While the Dublin pact has been specifically supported by the social partners in the context of Partnership 2000 as a measure to enhance employment opportunities for disadvantaged urban communities, all the pacts are heavily dependent on social partner involvement. This support is forthcoming.
Following Commission approval of interim technical assistance funding, each group is completing a preparatory phase of drawing up an action plan for the area. Applications have been sought for pacts co-ordinators to oversee the implementation of the definitive action plans for each area.
No additional funding, over and above existing CSF funding, will be available from the Commission to implement the plans, other than technical assistance for items such as networking and co-ordination requirements. There may, however, be scope to finance projects through existing operational programmes or initiatives, using financial margins for manoeuvre. The principal benefit of the pacts is to reinforce the already strong commitment to strategic actions involving the social partners to maximise local job potential. Networking with groups in other member states is particularly useful in this regard.