Vol. 491 No. 3
37 Mrs. B. Moynihan-Cronin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the way in which she will fund the expansion of the local employment service under the 1998 Employment Action Plan. [12103/98]
55 Ms Shortall asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the progress, if any, she has made to date in extending the local employment service on a nation-wide basis; the plans, if any, she has to ensure that all areas of the country will have access to the service in the near future; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12110/98]
74 Mr. McDowell asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment her views on whether there is a need to extend the local employment service in the Finance Bill, 1999, to ensure that the needs of the long-term unemployed are addressed and that adequate and relevant training programmes are available to the long-term unemployed. [9531/98]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 37, 55 and 74 together.
Financial provision for the local employment service, including its special education and training fund, is made in my Department's Estimate which I am satisfied will be adequate to meet any expansion needs this year. Such provision does not arise in connection with the Finance Bill which is primarily concerned with the implementation of various tax changes.
The Estimates for my Department for 1998 provide for the expansion of the local employment service to a number of new areas this year and my officials are currently assessing which areas could be included in this year's expansion phase.
Partnership 2000 for Inclusion, Employment and Competitiveness contains a commitment to the phased expansion of the LES initially to areas of concentrated unemployment, such that the LES will have commenced in all designated partneship areas during the period of this Partnership.
