Jim Mitchell
Ceist:96 Mr. J. Mitchell asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he has given any consideration to reintroducing the job search scheme or any variation thereof; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Reintroduction of Jobsearch Programme.
The National Jobsearch Programme was established by the Government in April 1987 and continued in operation up to early 1992. The programme provided job seeking skills or placement on FÁS training courses for over 177,500 people. Although the Jobsearch Programme has ceased, I have built on the experience of the programme, by introducing a range of services to meet the needs of unemployed people, including the back to work allowance scheme, the school leavers job scheme, the vocational training opportunities scheme, the vocational preparation and training programme, the third level pilot project and specifically designated area-based initiatives which are currently being extended. The appointment of jobs facilitators in each of my Department's main offices also represents an extension and improvement of the services available to the unemployed.