Written Answers. - Employment Action Plan.
Denis Naughten
Question:
159
Mr. Naughten
asked the
Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment
the percentage of people called for interview under the employment action plan who were placed in employment or training within one month after interview; the number of participants who failed to get such placement within one month; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[23490/00]
The Irish National Employment Action Plan, adopted by the Government as its response to the European employment guidelines, included a commitment to more systematic engagement of the employment services with the unemployed.
Implementation of this commitment in respect of young people aged under 25 years commenced on 1 September 1998. From that date, persons in this age group who reach six months on the live register are being referred by the Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs for interview by FÁS. Commencing from 1 March 1999, persons aged under 25 who reach 18 months on the live register are also being referred. Persons aged 25 to 34 years, approaching 12 months on the live register, have been included in the referral process from May 1999 onwards. Persons aged 35 to 55 were engaged with as they crossed the 12 month threshold from February 2000. This threshold was reduced to nine months on the live register for all those over 25 from July 2000 onwards.
By the end of July this year, a total of 39,054 unemployed have been referred to FÁS under the employment action plan activation process. Of these, 27,019, or 69%, have now left the live register.
When referred to FÁS, each individual's progress and career guidance process is tracked using a sophisticated caseload tracking system. The aim is to refer within one month as many clients as possible to a job, training or education course or some other support such as a job club.
Depending on the age category, between 17 to 25% of interviewees are placed in jobs, training or education within one month. This percentage improves radically over a three month period.
After one month, depending on the age category, between 35% to 42% of those interviewed continue with FÁS support in the form of intensive guidance and counselling. The remaining interviewees are either awaiting training, are not ready to progress due to health problems, etc., have dropped out of the process or have signed off the live register of their own accord.
A detailed report is published each month by my Department covering all those referred under the employment action plan. The report is sent to the Dáil Library and is also available on my Departments website at:
www.entemp.ie/lfd/month.htm
