Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 10 Mar 1992

Vol. 417 No. 1

Written Answers. - Manpower Policy White Paper.

Ruairí Quinn

Ceist:

43 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for Labour if he will outline the steps, if any, he proposes to take to set out in the forthcoming White Paper on Manpower Policy to redesign, in conjunction with the Department of Social Welfare, the method of measuring and recording unemployment with a view to providing a greater breakdown, both by type and location, of the labour force who are unemployed and are seeking employment, and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Labour (Mr. Cowen)

The Task Force on Employment appointed a sub-group in June 1991 to examine, inter alia, the need to analyse more fully the components of the live register and flows on and off it.

The sub-group have completed their examination of the current arrangements for collecting and recording information about people on the live register and have submitted their report to the task force.

The Minister for Social Welfare has already taken an initiative to expand the information available from the live register by the addition of previous history and occupational coding. This will indicate the immediate background and occupation of new registrants.

The progressive extension of computerisation to all those on the live register will also make available more up-to-date and detailed information on the employment and educational characteristics of those looking for work.

Under existing computer linkages between FÁS and the Department of Social Welfare, FÁS will be able to access this information.

FÁS also maintain their own register of job-seekers many of whom would not be on the live register.

The Government are keeping this position under review. Further action will be influenced by the views of the Task Force on Employment.