Tom Hayes
Question:42 Mr. Hayes asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if she has plans to further assist long-term unemployed people back into employment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18086/03]
Written Answers. - Employment Support Services.
My Department assists and encourages long-term unemployed and other long-term welfare recipients to return to work, training or further education through a range of measures administered by the Department's employment support service.
One significant measure is the back to work allowance scheme which incentivises and encourages long-term unemployed people, lone parents and certain persons with disabilities to return to work by allowing them to retain part of their social welfare payment when they take up employment or self-employment. There are 20,965 participants in the scheme, over half of whom are engaged in a wide range of self-employment options.
Another measure offered by my Department's employment support service is the back to education allowance programme. This is a second chance educational opportunities programme designed to encourage and facilitate unemployed people, lone parents and people with disabilities to improve their skills and qualifications with a view to returning to the work force.
A range of other supports is provided by the Department's locally based jobs facilitators. Their primary role is to assist the long-term unemployed and other long-term welfare dependants back to work, training or further education by providing them on an individual basis with assistance to access the necessary programmes or supports which their circumstances demand. Jobs facilitators have access to some additional services, including funding to arrange specialised training and supports for those who are distant from the labour market and who need additional help in preparing them for further training and employment.
Other supports targeted specifically at the long-term unemployed include the operation of the employment action plan, EAP, under which customers on the live register are systematically referred to FÁS for guidance, intervention or placement. The programme for Government contains a commitment that all customers on the live register will be offered similar referral to FÁS. The process of extending the EAP to all people over six months on the live register commenced in the Dublin region in May 2003 and discussions are taking place with a view to commencing this process in all other regions before the end of 2003.
Within the EAP process, certain customers may face severe employability issues which are not amenable to resolution within the normal range of interventions available. To assist such customers a high supports process was established earlier this year by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment. As part of this process local networks of relevant service providers are being established in certain areas in conjunction with FÁS and my Department's job facilitators. People identified as suffering severe employability issues will be referred to the local networks and appropriate avenues will be identified to enhance employability. A special fund is available to purchase specialist training or interventions that may be required to assist an individual.
The Department is also engaged at present with the Economic and Social Research Institute in research to identify, at an early stage, those customers on the live register who are likely to suffer employability difficulties. This will facilitate the availability of more appropriate and timely interventions to address these difficulties and will help prevent future long-term unemployment. It is hoped that the results of this research will be available by August 2003.
My Department, through its employment support and other services, has been very successful in assisting people away from the cycle of long-term unemployment and back into the workforce. The services provided are under constant review and I am satisfied as to their continued relevance and flexibility in today's job market.
Question No. 43 answered with Question No. 29.
Question No. 44 answered with Question No. 8.