Access to many labour market programmes is confined to those who are signing on the live register for a specified period of time. Access to the live register itself is available to men and women who satisfy the conditions for receipt of unemployment benefit or unemployment assistance or who are entitled to sign for unemployment credited contributions. There are, however, programmes available for which attachment to the live register is not a requirement and female participation rates in these courses have increased significantly over the years.
In accordance with a commitment given in Partnership 2000, a working group has been established to review the question of access to labour market opportunities with a view to increasing gender equity. This group is chaired by my Department and includes representatives from the National Women's Council of Ireland, the INOU, the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, the Irish Business and Employers Confederation, the Irish Farmers' Association, the congress centres for the unemployed, FÁS, the Employment Equality Agency, Aontas and relevant Government Departments. It is expected the report of the group will be completed early next year and the Government will then consider the action that needs to be taken on foot of the recommendations.