Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 15 Mar 1995

Vol. 450 No. 7

Written Answers. - Task Force Recommendations on Unemployment.

Willie O'Dea

Ceist:

14 Mr. O'Dea asked the Minister for Enterprise and Employment the proposals, if any, the Government will introduce to meet the criticism in the task force report published on 7 March 1995, of existing services for the long term unemployed; the defects in the present system which they propose to remedy; and the timescale. [5431/95]

Eric J. Byrne

Ceist:

29 Mr. E. Byrne asked the Minister for Enterprise and Employment the measures, if any, he intends taking to implement the recommendations of the task force on long term unemployment; the specific targets, if any, he will set; the timeframe within which he intends implementing the recommendations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5489/95]

Willie O'Dea

Ceist:

35 Mr. O'Dea asked the Minister for Enterprise and Employment the action, if any, which has been taken towards the establishment of an intensive guidance and placement service operated at local level. [5430/95]

Minister for Enterprise and Employment (Mr. R. Bruton)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 14, 29 and 35 together.

The Government has accepted the central recommendation of the task force on long term unemployment to put in place a local employment service to meet the needs of the long term unemployed.

The local employment service will be introduced on a phased basis. Initially the service will be set up in the 12 area based partnerships established under theProgramme for Economic and Social Progress and in two non-partnership areas. The aim of the new service will be to reduce the numbers of people who are long term unemployed. To ensure that the new service is up and running as quickly as possible I have established in my Department a new policy unit on long term unemployment whose immediate task is to oversee the putting in place of the local employment service as recommended by the task force on long term unemployment.

Essentially the new service will be managed by a local management committee, operating under the auspices of the area partnership. The local management committee will oversee the drawing up and implementation of the overall strategy for the local employment service in their areas. My Department has begun consultation with other Government Departments and agencies and the area partnerships to ensure that the new service is operational as soon as possible.

The Government has decided to allocate £5 million in 1995 to meet the additional costs of providing the guidance, counselling and active placement service to be available from the new service, which will draw mainly on existing resources. The Government has also decided to provide £1 million for a special local training and education fund for innovative training and education measures for the long term unemployed.

The task force on long term unemployment will report to the Government by end October 1995 on the progress of the local employment service.