Vol. 400 No. 6
7 Mr. McCartan asked the Minister for Labour the steps which are being taken to ensure that the long-term unemployed are offered job training places under the new pilot FÁS employment training scheme, announced in the budget; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The job training scheme, which was agreed between my Department, FÁS, ICTU, FIE and CII was launched by me on 1 June. The scheme is aimed at persons on the live register whose job prospects need to be enhanced by a period of work experience and training and who are referred to employers by FÁS.
FÁS will encourage employers to select participants from the longer-term unemployed on the live register, but the final decision will rest with the employers. I would ask employers to make worthwhile opportunities for the unemployed available under the scheme so as to ensure its success.
Operation of the scheme will be monitored on an ongoing basis and changes made as appropriate. In addition, a review will be carried out at the end of the pilot period before any decision is taken on the future of the scheme.
What is the number of places that will be offered in this programme? Does it remain at 1,000? Does the Minister acknowledge that in the context of long-term unemployed forming such a disproportionate share of the unemployed in this country compared with our European partners there is an urgent necessity to devise additional programmes that target the long-term unemployed with a view to giving them some hope of getting back into economic activity if and when conditions improve?
I welcome the Deputy's support for the scheme. The initial 1,000 was really my decision because I wanted us to get it right. The work experience scheme, which Deputies in the House will remember, had a number of abouses, so we are endeavouring to get this scheme right. I would say the figure could be expanded to 5,000 with no great difficulty but as soon as we get the pilot scheme completed we will look at this.
If this scheme turns out to be satisfactory and is expanded, the employment of women in the home might be integrated into such a scheme. At the moment, as the Minister knows, such women are not registered as unemployed or ready for employment and are excluded totally from such schemes.
I suppose it is fair to say that in the pilot scheme that is not envisaged. The pilot scheme hopes to achieve as its first priority the overcoming of this difficulty in the labour market primarily for young people or not so young people who are long-term unemployed who answer advertisements for jobs and are told they have not got the appropriate experience. The reason they have not the appropriate experience is that they never had a job. The intention is primarily to get over that obstacle and put them into a job where there is a model for training so they have an opportunity to get some work experience or training in companies that are likely to be taking on additional workers. They are not going in just for work experience or training. There is a likelihood that the company they are being placed in will take on staff. It is somewhat like a probation period. If they are suitable and adequate and can fit the employer's demands they will have an opportunity of getting a job. It is geared more to that than to other people.
I am not ruling out seeking to extend the scheme. I am just giving the pilot aspect. I will consider the point made by the Deputy.
Sir, I want your guidance. I got a letter from you dated 26 June disallowing a question I wanted to table to the Minister for Labour about the FÁS schemes and specifically——
Deputy Fennell, I presumed you had a pertinent question to the Minister on Question No. 7.
It is.
Then, please proceed.
I would appreciate it if you would let me state my case.
You may not challenge the ruling of the Chair in respect of Standing Orders.
I am not doing so. All I am asking is that you explain to me. You wrote to me saying——
You are challenging the Chair.
These questions were about FÁS and in your letter you say the Minister——
Please, Deputy Fennell. Deputy Monica Barnes, a relevant question.
I cannot get this information from FÁS. I want to get it here.
If you have a relevant, pertinent question, please let us have it, Deputy.
Has the Minister responsibility for statistics relating to return to work courses and the amount of money spent on them? There is evidence, in my book, of cutbacks in this year. External training courses have been reduced from four last year to two this year. First, has the Minister responsibility? Second, can he tell me that?
I think I have answered this question but I will repeat myself. The return to work courses for FÁS are doubled. The demand has increased because we have been advertising them and making people aware of them. FÁS are responsible for the day to day matters. On the question asked by Deputy Barnes, it is 930 places and I undertake to forward the figures for the cost to Deputy Barnes.
Because of the initiative of this model I would like to ask the Minister if the extension of this model or a comparable model will be set up. I am taking into consideration that the Minister has made a commitment to more Structural Funds being directed positively towards women. Will a comparable model be set up for the reintegration of women into the workforce from the home?
I will undertake to look at that.
