Vol. 518 No. 5
78 Mr. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment her plans, if any, to ensure the provision of adequate job opportunities with suitable skill requirements for those unemployed in areas having traditionally high unemployment levels and social and economic deprivation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12197/00]
IDA Ireland is seeking to increase its delivery of new jobs particularly into the regions and, at the same time, the agency is working closely with the providers of infrastructure and the educational-training bodies etc., to delivery improved facilities for industry. The agency's job creation objectives take into account the need for attracting inward investment to unemployment blackspots and areas of social deprivation.
Enterprise Ireland is deeply committed to developing indigenous industry and to regional dispersal and this is reflected in the deployment of more than 100 staff in its regional network of offices. Strategies are also being developed by the agency which will take account of employment needs throughout all regions of the country, especially in high need areas. In addition, the new community enterprise centre initiative is specifically targeted at the needs of high urban unemployment areas.
In addition to the efforts of the enterprise support agencies, the labour market policies pursued by my Department focus on promoting increased employment throughout the country in both urban and rural areas and meeting the skills needs of the economy. Key elements of these policies include early intervention aimed at reducing the duration of unemployment, the FÁS action for the long-term unemployed and a range of measures aimed at developing specific skills among new entrants to the labour market, the unemployed and those in employment.
The work of the area based partnerships operating under the aegis of my colleague the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation is also relevant to addressing the employment needs in areas of social and economic deprivation.
In 1997, the Government established the Expert on Future Skills Needs to identify in a systematic way the skills requirements of different sectors of the economy and to advise on the actions necessary to meet those needs. The group has published two reports to ensure that qualified people are being trained to fill jobs, the first of which has been implemented and the second of which, published in March 2000, is currently being considered.
