Michael McDowell
Ceist:30 Mr. M. McDowell asked the Minister for Enterprise and Employment the number of persons who have availed of the Workplace initiative announced in the 1996 Budget. [19225/96]
Written Answers. - Workplace Programme.
Mary O'Rourke
Ceist:258 Mrs. O'Rourke asked the Minister for Enterprise and Employment the number of places which have been filled on the Workplace programme. [19676/96]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 30 and 258 together.
Workplace is a new programme which was launched during the summer and as such is still in its infancy. FÁS and the local employment service are actively publicising and promoting Workplace among employers and unemployed persons.
While I am disappointed with the take up to date, I have taken steps to raise the profile of Workplace and improve the promotion of the scheme on the ground by actions such as advertising regional promotions.
Last week, I met the various employer organisations, including IBEC, ISME and the SFA, and with ICTU and the INOU, to discuss how best they could assist in promoting this programme. All of these organisations re-affirmed their full support for the programme and agreed on a range of further measures to promote it.
As at the end of September 1996, 227 persons had obtained work experience under Workplace.