Vol. 514 No. 1
64 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of employers who are participating in the workplace scheme; the cost of this scheme for 1999; the projected costs for 2000; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3478/00]
112 Mrs. Owen asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of employers who are participating in the workplace scheme; the cost of this scheme for 1999; the projected costs for 2000; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3549/00]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 64 and 112 together.
Workplace is an initiative designed to prevent the drift into long-term unemployment of persons who are unemployed six months or more by placing them with employers for a five week trial period. FÁS does not keep a record of the number of employers participating in the programme. However, information on participants is available.
A total of 1,769 participants started on the workplace programme in 1999 at a cost of £221,000. The projected cost of workplace in 2000 is £300,000. There are 5,000 places available on this programme. However, the unprecedented level of jobs growth and competition from other programmes has resulted in a lower than anticipated uptake of places on this programme.
