Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 20 Apr 1999

Vol. 503 No. 3

Written Answers. - Local Employment Service.

Proinsias De Rossa

Ceist:

111 Proinsias De Rossa asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the areas in which there are local employment services established and the 11 unemployment black spots identified by the Combat Poverty Agency Report. [9563/99]

Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Ms Harney)

Local employment service (LES) networks are currently operating in the following 18 areas: Dublin northside, Dublin inner city, Tallaght, Finglas/Cabra, Ballymun, Blanchardstown, Clondalkin, Ballyfermot, Cork city, south Kerry, west Waterford, south west Wexford, Mayo, Dundalk, Limerick city, Drogheda, Counties Kildare and Clare.

On 29 September 1998, I announced the expansion of the LES to a further seven areas, namely, Bray, Southside, comprising 12 areas in Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown, Canal communities, Bluebell, Inchicore, Islandbridge, Kilmainham, Rialto, Galway city, County Monaghan, Tralee and Waterford city. Those areas are currently at various stages in establishing the LES.

I understand that the Combat Poverty Agency's report from 1998, Where are Poor Households?, ranked counties by unemployment rate based on 1986 and 1991 data. The first 11 areas ranked in that analysis were, for 1991, Donegal, Limerick county borough, Louth, Dublin county borough, Cork county borough, Waterford county borough, Wexford, Carlow, South Tipperary, Wicklow and Offaly. Within particular areas there can be a substantial variation in the unemployment rate.

Despite the tremendous progress we are making in terms of increased employment, there are certain areas of the country which continue to suffer serious disadvantage and long-term unemployment. The Government is tackling that problem. We have decided to bring the LES and the FÁS employment service together in a co-ordinated manner under the auspices of FÁS. Within this new framework FÁS will be establishing a widely representative employment service advisory committee to support it in the implentation of the employment service function. This restructuring should ensure that resources are utilised in the optimum manner and that a comprehensive employment service is available for those who need it. Furthermore, the Government's Employment Action Plan is being implemented vigorously. There has been substantial progress reported in the 18-25 year old age group who passed six months on the live register. In March we extended the action plan to those under 25 years old as they crossed 18 months on the live register and from 1 May we will be addressing the 25-34 year old age group who are on the live register for one year.