The Local Employment Service provides a range of services to unemployed people focusing on the provision of practical support, advice, guidance and information relating to employment, training and return to work and welfare rights options. The service is community-based and operated by Local Development Companies in 25 designated disadvantaged areas with funding provided by FÁS. The service is free, voluntary and confidential and tailored to meet local circumstances and the needs of the person. Expenditure by FÁS on the local employment services programmes for the years 2009, 2010 and 2011 is set out in the following table. FÁS has advised that expenditure for the whole of 2011 is expected to be broadly similar to 2010.
Local Employment Services Programme Actual Expenditure by Region € (m)
Region
|
2011 (to end Sept)
|
2010
|
2009
|
Dublin
|
6.682
|
9.466
|
9.535
|
North East
|
1.087
|
1.555
|
1.587
|
South East
|
1.551
|
2.211
|
2.083
|
South West
|
1.432
|
2.041
|
1.966
|
Mid West
|
1.045
|
1.406
|
1.333
|
West
|
1.102
|
1.391
|
1.543
|
Midlands
|
0.634
|
0.894
|
0.916
|
Central
|
0.012
|
0.014
|
0.007
|
Total
|
13.546
|
18.978
|
18.970
|