Vol. 436 No. 4
123 Mr. Molloy asked the Minister for Enterprise and Employment the number of Irish job seekers in Europe who have been assisted by the FÁS European Employment Service in obtaining employment; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The European Employment Service (EURES) is a network made up of the national employment services of the EC member states. FÁS is the Irish member of the EURES network. Over the last two years more than 3,000 Irish job seekers have been directly placed in employment through the EURES network. It is estimated that approximately 9,000 people were interviewed in making these placements.
In the last two years FÁS has received in excess of 20,000 inquiries in relation to the EURES programme and employment opportunities in the EC. FÁS has a programme of pre-emigration advice and counselling from specially trained staff in all of its locations throughout the country. It should be noted that in the majority of cases people were advised to stay in Ireland rather than to emigrate where sustainable employment could not be ensured.
In order to enhance the development of the EURES programme FÁS has specialised staff based in three other member states — the UK, the Netherlands and Germany — to help indentify job opportunities and to offer assistance if the need arises.
The EURES system is still very much at the early stages of its development and has yet to reach its full potential. I am sure that as it develops there will be increased opportunities for Irish people to avail of this most valuable placement system. Such a system means that Irish people who intend to emigrate to other countries in the EC can now be better prepared beforehand.
