Vol. 518 No. 5
21 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the progress being made on the consultation process in regard to the jobs initiative programme in view of her statement that is was likely to be finalised before Easter; if the promised new guidelines have been issued; if not, when they will be available and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11932/00]
The job initiative programme is a three year work experience programme for persons who have been unemployed for five years or longer. The fundamental objective of the programme is to progress participants into mainstream employment. The first phase of participants have completed their term and are now availing of a six months extension in order to address any training or development needs they may still have, and to allow time for the local employment service to engage more actively with them to facilitate their progression to employment in the open labour market.
The process of consultation with the social partners and interested parties on the recommendations of the Deloitte and Touche review of job initiative has been delayed while further consideration is being given by my Department to the implications the Redundancy Payments Acts for the operation of the job initiative programme. I expect that consultations can be concluded shortly enabling guidelines to be issued on the future operation of the programme at the earliest possible opportunity.
