Vol. 433 No. 1
160 Mr. D. Ahern asked the Minister for Enterprise and Employment whether it is intended to designate Drogheda as an area for special treatment under the chapter dealing with the area based response for the long term unemployed in the Programme for Economic and Social Progress, particularly in view of the large percentage of unemployed in the area; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I recently confirmed that I had requested my Department to consider the scope for extending the area based response to long term unemployment by means of an examination of areas with similar socio-economic profiles to the existing 12 Partnerships. The selection of areas will have to take account of factors such as the level of unemployment, particularly long term unemployment, the need for a geographical and urban-rural spread and the existence of structures and activities already in place on which the area based response could build.
I have arranged for consultations to be undertaken between the Drogheda Pre-Partnership Committee, which has been exploring job creation ideas and the prospects for local enterprise initiatives, and officials of my Department and the National Co-ordination Team which has worked closely with the Programme for Economic and Social Progress Area Partnership Companies over the past three years.
