Vol. 508 No. 1
155 Mr. N. Ahern asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if, further to Parliamentary Question No. 43 of 24 June 1999, she will give a further breakdown of the 648 participants in the Dublin north region on the job initiative scheme; the number in Ballymun and Finglas; the number of these who will end their term in 1999 and 2000; and the progress, if any, on retaining these people in their jobs. [17663/99]
Of the 648 participants on job initiative referred to in my reply in June 1999, approximately 450 will have completed their three years by 31 December 1999, with the balance completing their three years by 2001.
In relation to the 648 participants, there are 21 in the Finglas-Cabra area, while there are 74 in the Ballymun area, of whom 11 are due to complete their three years in 1999 and 23 in 2000.
A decision in relation to the job initiative programme will be made following completion of the evaluation of the programme by Deloitte & Touche and subsequent consultations with the social partners on the recommendations. It is anticipated that a good proportion of the workers involved should be able to progress on to open market employment as a result of the work experience and training gained over the three years on the programme. In addition, FÁS placement services and the local employment services will be available to assist the workers' progression to suitable employment or training opportunities on completion of their period on the job initiative programme.
