Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 16 Oct 1996

Vol. 470 No. 2

Written Answers. - Job Facilitators.

Joe Walsh

Ceist:

76 Mr. J. Walsh asked the Minister for Social Welfare the number of job facilitators employed by his Department; if he will give a breakdown of their location by region; and if he has satisfied himself with their effectiveness. [18220/96]

Minister for Social Welfare (Proinsias De Rossa)

The role of the jobs facilitators is to assess the needs of the unemployed at a local level, support them in seeking job opportunities and direct them towards the wide range of existing initiatives and options provided by various Government Departments, agencies, voluntary bodies and community groups including the back to work allowance administered by my Department.

There are 30 jobs facilitators employed by my Department. The following is a breakdown by region of their locations:

Region	Number
Eastern	8
North-Eastern	3
Southern	4
Mid-Western	3
South-Eastern	3
North-Western	3
Western	3
Midlands	3

I am satisfied that the job facilitators have a very useful role in assisting unemployed people and in particular that the back to work allowance scheme is a very worthwhile initiative. I have recently announced an increase in the number of places available on this allowance from 15,000 to 17,000 this year.