I propose to take Questions Nos. 29 and 42 together.
Job initiative participants have access to three years temporary employment. Budget 99 added an additional 875 places to job initiative provision, bringing the total number of places available to 2,875.
My Department has commissioned Deloitte & Touche to review the programme as follows: in the light of labour market changes since the inception of the job initiative programme to revisit the assumptions underlying the targeted groups and provide comment and analysis on whether job initiative remains an appropriate intervention in respect of each of these groups; to consider if the programme is successful in meeting its objectives and indicate how it might be improved or better targeted, and assess if the programme provides value for money to the Exchequer.
I expect a report from Deloitte & Touche in early July. In parallel, my Department has been consulting with job initiative stakeholders and this process, too, will help inform future policy. The issue of a further extension for the current participants has also been raised with me but I do not wish to make decisions until I have the evaluation.
Generally speaking, with regard to those persons completing their three year term on the job initiative later this year my Department is initiating discussions with FÁS and relevant local employment service networks in order to set in place appropriate responses to help individuals take up jobs or access training.
