Vol. 495 No. 7
144 Mr. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if she has satisfied herself that sufficient training and community employment places exist to meet current requirements; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21956/98]
Ireland invests very significantly in active labour market programmes such as community employment, specific skills training, back to work allowance and the VTOS programme.
For every two persons currently full-time unemployed and in receipt of a live register payment, another person is on an active labour market programme. This is, by any standards, a reasonable level of provision for the numbers of potential participants although there is certainly a case for reviewing the mix and quality of places on such programmes with a view to enhancing progression outcomes for the particpants.
