Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 13 May 2004
57 Mr. Crowe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the progress that has been made on the national anti-poverty strategy commitment to eliminate long-term unemployment as soon as circumstances permit but in any case not later than 2007; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13857/04]
View answerLong-term unemployment has been reduced dramatically during the last seven years. In 1998 long-term unemployment amounted to 63,500, which represented 3.9% of the labour force. By 2002 the numbers had fallen by over 40,000 to 21,600 — 1.2% of the labour force. There was a small increase to 26,900 during 2003, resulting in an end of year rate of 1.4%. The EU average rate, by contrast, is 3%.
In support of the national anti-poverty strategy, FÁS is providing a range of training and employment programmes for the long-term unemployed. These include skills training, foundation training and employment programmes such as community employment and the job initiative. FÁS statistics show that in the first eleven months of 2003 a total of 27,954 long-term unemployed persons started FÁS programmes.
To increase the focus on long-term unemployed persons, FÁS introduced two new initiatives in 2003. The employment action plan process, involving referral by the Department of Social and Family Affairs of unemployed persons to FÁS for help in gaining access to training or employment, was extended to long-term unemployed persons on a regional basis. By the end of 2003, the process was operational in six of the eight FÁS regions including Dublin. It will become operational in all regions during this year. The process had already been shown to be successful in four pilot areas, so there is every reason to expect that it will now be successful on a State-wide basis.
In addition a high support process was officially launched early last year. The process provides additional funding to help purchase specific training courses to meet individuals' needs and helps them rejoin the workforce. The target group includes long-term unemployed clients and, last year over 450 persons were referred to the process.
