Vol. 550 No. 5
62 Mr. Wall asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the basis on which the jobs initiative scheme is being wound down; the exit arrangements in place for participants who are nearing the end of their job initiative term; the reason no effort is being made to recruit new entrants to the scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9484/02]
The job initiative programme is an active labour market programme for persons unemployed for five years or longer and over 35 years of age. The primary objective of JI is to assist long-term unemployed persons to prepare for work opportunities available in the open labour market.
The maximum number of places available on the programme has remained constant since 1999 at 2,875 per annum and will remain at this level for the foreseeable future.
Access to JI is currently somewhat restricted as a number of participants still remain on JI having completed their full three-year entitlement. However, a new high supports process which will target persons with employability barriers has recently been developed by my Department in consultation with the social partners, and should assist such persons to make the transition to work in the open labour market. I hope to be in a position to announce details of this process very shortly.
I recently approved the introduction of a new team leader position on the JI programme, which will provide essential management, administrative and operational support for these projects. This will facilitate more effective training and development structures, and improve the overall service to participants. I am confident that this in turn will improve participants' prospects to progress to employment or to other positive outcomes, following their term on the programme.
As provided under the PPF, an overall review of active labour market programmes is to be undertaken, and discussions in this regard have recently commenced under the PPF Standing Committee on the Labour Market chaired by my Department. The future policy direction of active labour market programmes, such as JI, will be further informed by the outcome of this process.
