asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he has made any regulations under section 149 (b) of the Social Welfare Act, 1980, for the attendance of unemployed persons at approved courses of instruction; and, if not, the reason.
Written Answers. - Training for Unemployed.
969.
Section 149 (b) of the Social Welfare (Consolidation) Act, 1981, is a re-enactment of section 22 of the Unemployment Assistance Act, 1933. Regulations have not been made under the provision.
As part of the liaison arrangements between this Department and the National Manpower Service, unemployed persons generally attending local offices are advised to register with the National Manpower Service. In this respect special attention is paid to the needs of the young unemployed. The National Manpower Service advises unemployed people about suitable training and work experience opportunities available to them at AnCO centres and elsewhere. AnCO offers a number of courses in a wide variety of industrial skills. Unemployed persons attending such courses are paid an allowance and the Department of Social Welfare encourages such attendance by awarding credited employment contributions to safeguard their records of insurability under the Social Welfare Acts. One of the first tasks of the new Youth Employment Agency is to increase substantially the number of training and work experience opportunities available to cater for the needs of all young unemployed persons.