Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 11 May 1999

Vol. 504 No. 4

Written Answers. - Job Initiatives.

Jan O'Sullivan

Ceist:

101 Ms O'Sullivan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the plans, if any, she has to maintain the whole time job initiative after December 1999; if she will ensure that those participating in the programme do not return to the dole queue and are given support either in transition to other employment or in remaining within the programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11978/99]

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

The job initiative is a work reintegration programme targeted at the very long-term unemployed, persons on the live register for five years or more and aged 35 or over. Job initiative participants have access to three years temporary employment. Budget 1999 added an additional 875 places to job initiative provision, bringing the total number of places available under job initiative to 2,875.

The first 1,000 job initiative participants are in the third and final year of their programme. An independent review of the pilot programme is being commissioned and any policy decisions regarding the future of the programme will be deferred until this report is to hand, which should be by June 1999. On the question of a further extension for the current participants, I have to stress that the fundamental objective of the programme is to facilitate their reintegration into the open labour market. As a general principle it would also not be fair to other very long-term unemployed persons who might avail of this programme. On the positive side, I understand that a number of participants have already left the programme prior to completing three years in order to take up jobs. This is an encouraging sign of the programme's efficacy and of the motivation of participants.

On the basis of experience gained a significant number of participants should be able to get jobs in the open labour market on completion of the programme and FÁS will provide progression advice and support to all participants in the lead up to completion. The managing agents for the job initiative have particular obligations in this regard also. I accept, however, that there may be some participants who face particular problems in taking this final step and can assure the Deputy that we will seek to deal with such cases in a sympathetic way.