asked the Minister for Labour if he will make a statement on the way in which the Jobsearch programme has operated to date; and if he has satisfied himself on the basis of the progress to date that the targets for participation as outlined in the budget will be obtained.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Jobsearch Programme.
8.
The Jobsearch programme commenced operation, on a limited basis, on 6 April 1987 and became fully operational on 4 May 1987. The elements in the Jobsearch programme for which the Manpower agencies are responsible are: (1) interviewing 150,000 people on the live register; (2) placing 40,000 in manpower opportunities; (3) providing places for 12,000 people on special Jobsearch courses.
Since the inception of the Jobsearch programme to 22 May, a total of 17,893 people have been interviewed by the National Manpower Service. Of these, 5,822 have been referred to opportunities in either manpower programmes, job vacancies or AnCO-sponsored Jobsearch courses and 1,844 had been placed in such opportunities. The numbers placed will increase as the AnCO-sponsored Jobsearch courses build up to their full capacity and as people from the live register replace current participants completing their allotted period on existing manpower programmes.
The names of 1,736 people who have either failed to attend for an interview, refused a reasonable offer of an opportunity or were unreasonably unco-operative on manpower programmes or Jobsearch courses have been submitted to the Department of Social Welfare.
Only three weeks have elapsed since the programme became fully operational. It is, however, the intention to do all possible to meet the targets of the programme. Participation levels are being monitored by my Department on a weekly basis. If there is any evidence of slippage from targets the question of remedial action will be considered.
First, has any single job actually been created out of this scheme to date? Secondly, in what areas does the Minister expect vacancies to arise, in view of the fact that the quota allocated under the social employment schemes has been taken up in most of the regions? Thirdly, is the scheme operational in all the Manpower office areas around the country and, fourthly and finally, what happens in the case of a notified person who does not turn up for interview on the first occasion? Does that person get a second interview and if he does not turn up on that occasion is he then removed from the eligibility list for unemployment assistance or benefit?
The question of people being submitted for interview is for the Department of Social Welfare. Guidelines are issued to the NMS offices. There is a very long list. If the Deputy wishes to have this information, I can make it available to him. I have been monitoring the Jobsearch scheme on a weekly basis and people initially are not over-happy about being called in, although a number are declaring an interest in this scheme. Depending on the success and on the instructors and people involved, there can be a great degree of encouragement. The whole scheme is operating on a positive basis. It is to try to motivate people who are on long-term unemployment and who are not getting anywhere as far as obtaining a job is concerned and who feel the agencies are not giving them any opportunity. The course is a motivation course to assist them. I have seen in a number of other schemes how this would work. The first four week course has just been completed in certain areas and people are coming back with other ideas, how to become involved in social employment schemes in other areas, in incentive schemes in their own areas, in Teamwork schemes and there are others moving into co-operatives. In some rural areas, through local co-operation of the community, industries in the area are asked to take one or two people from the course and in some of the rural areas about 15 people have been on the first course and five or six have got jobs straight from it. I cannot say that percentage rate would follow everywhere, but there are a number of positive elements. As it goes on there will be an attempt to increase the number of areas of involvment. Difficulties and initial problems are being ironed out. I believe the scheme can be quite successful. There is a very small section of people who are objecting fundamentally to the scheme.
What assumptions were made as to the effect the scheme would have on the live register this year?
I am monitoring the scheme, as I have said. We will interview 150,000 people on the live register, placing 40,000 in Manpower opportunities and providing places for 12,000 people on special Jobsearch courses. How this will affect the figures on the live register is a matter for the Department of Social Welfare.
I call Deputy Quinn.
Is it part of the Jobsearch guidelines as issued to Manpower officers that voluntary organisations who seek to hire people through the social employment scheme are required to confine their employment search, so to speak, to people specifically and exclusively coming through the Jobsearch net?
I do not believe that is true. It is not part of the scheme to answer the question.
If I bring to the Minister's attention a particular instance where this has been communicated to a voluntary organisation, will he be able to clarify the matter specifically?
Certainly. I can confirm it is not part of the circular that went to the agency.
Will the Minister accept that when the Government were formulating their budget proposals they had to make certain assumptions as to what the figures would be for the live register for every week for the remainder of the year? In coming to those assumptions they presumably made certain deductions about what would be the effect of the Jobsearch programme. He is the Minister who has primary charge of this programme and he should be in a position to tell this House what effect the scheme will have on the live register.
We are having repetition now.
Payments to those on the live register are part of the subheads of social welfare and that is not the responsibility of the Minister. Implicit in the Deputy's questions is that the Jobsearch scheme is a negative one. I do not accept that. I know there are great numbers of people on the long-term unemployment list for several years who have never been called to an NMS interview and have not had any opportunity to partake in a Manpower course or any other course under the aegis of my Department. This allows them to do that. A number of Deputies from all sides of the House have brought groups to me in the past week or ten days with positive proposals arising out the Jobsearch scheme, so I see a number of positive aspects in the scheme.
Will the Minister clarify again that the list submitted to the Jobsearch interviewers is submitted by the employment exchanges managers? Some of these managers are in a position to remove applicants from the unemployment assistance register if they do not turn up for the first or second time for interview. What is the exact position in relation to those applicants? Are they removed from the unemployment assistance register, or has any directive been issued by the Department to the managers of the exchanges to that effect?
The Manpower office forward the name with a report of the position. That does not automatically exclude these people from the live register. It is a question for the Department of Social Welfare to make a decision on that. From the monitoring I have been doing it appears different decisions have been made. Obviously flexibility is being used by social welfare officers.
I call Deputy Colley for a final supplementary.
So it is the employment exchange manager's decision in that instance?
It is. The role of the NMS it so forward the report. They have not that power.
To remove people from the list?
No.
Will the Minister clarify what type of Jobsearch courses are being provided? Will he agree, as I suggested in my speech on the Estimate, to provide some specific courses for those with very poor education, particularly those who are illiterate?
I have taken up the point the Deputy has made. I know she raised this matter eight days ago on the Estimate debate. It was a good point to assist people who perhaps would be reluctant to come forward to the scheme. I shall ask AnCO to look into the matter to see what special schemes could be devised to assist in the matter.
Under Jobsearch?
Under Jobsearch.