Vol. 483 No. 4
127 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the total number of extra women currently on the live register whose signing he has facilitated since coming into office thereby giving them access to a variety of training schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20747/97]
The total number of women on the live register at the end of October 1997 was 95,678 as compared with 94,678 at the end of May 1997. All women on the live register have equal access with men to the various labour market opportunities and supports which are available to the unemployed.
A range of measures are in place which are designed to provide information and advice to both women and men in relation to the options available to them. These include an information leaflet entitled Signing on the Live Register giving details about unemployment payments and full details about employment schemes, training courses and educational opportunities. Women in common with men also have access to the services of my Department's locally based job facilitators to inform and advise them on the various options available.
As far as women who are not on the live register are concerned Partnership 2000 includes a commitment to the establishment, in the first year of the partnership, of a working group to examine the question of equal access by women to labour market opportunities, including training, education and employment programmes. This group has now been established under the chairmanship of my Department and has commenced its work. It is expected that its report will be available by mid-1998.
