Seymour Crawford
Ceist:39 Mr. Crawford asked the Minister for Enterprise and Employment the targets, if any, he has set for reductions in the number of people in long-term unemployment; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Long-term Unemployment.
The social employment scheme/community employment development programme is the primary manpower intervention aimed at helping the long-term unemployed, aged 25 years or over, re-enter the active workforce while assisting voluntary groups and public sector bodies to do worthwhile work which they would not otherwise have undertaken. About 15,500 persons on average in 1993 would have been assisted under the programme.
The employment incentive scheme is also targeted at the long-term unemployed as well as early school-leavers and disadvantaged persons. It is proposed to provide about 1,400 places on the scheme in 1993.
FÁS offers a wide variety of training programmes which cater for all unemployed groups, including the long-term unemployed. More especially, FÁS runs an alternance programme which is specifically targeted at the long-term unemployed, aged 25 years or over, and those people wishing to return to the labour market after a prolonged absence. Special measures, operate in the 12 areas set up under the Programme for Economic and Social Progress which focus on eliminating difficulties for the long-term unemployed in these areas. Three of these areas — Tallaght, Dublin Inner City and Cork City North — receive special EC funding. The assistance of the Co-operative Development Unit of FÁS is also available to unemployed persons with an interest in co-operative development. In total FÁS expects to provide some 16,000 training places in 1993.