Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 24 Jun 1999

Vol. 507 No. 1

Written Answers. - Job Initiatives.

Noel Ahern

Ceist:

43 Mr. N. Ahern asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of people on the jobs incentive scheme; the numbers in each location; the number whose scheme ends in 1999; the plans, if any, she has for these people; if they will be kept in employment; and the arrangements, if any, being made particularly for elderly people over 50 who find it harder to adapt and retrain for currently available job positions. [16247/99]

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

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 to 2,875. The actual number of participants on the job initiative programme at 21 June 1999 is 1,758. There were 1,000 job initiative places allocated in the first phase in 1996 and these participants will complete their three term in December 1999.

A review of the job initiative programme has been commissioned by my Department. Deloitte & Touche consultants are undertaking this work and their report is expected in July. In parallel, my Department has been consulting with job initiative stakeholders and this process, too, will help inform future policy. No decision on an extension for current participants will be taken until the evaluation is complete.

The location of the participants is as follows – as per 21 June 1999

Job Initiative Participants.

FAS Region	Participants	Participants(Initial 1,000)
Dublin North	648	450
Dublin West	282	150
Dublin South	49	–
Mid-West	313	200
South-West	271	200
West	36	–
Midlands	20	–
North-East	69	–
North-West	32	–
South-East	38	–
Total	1,758	1,000

On completion of their term on job initiative participants can avail of the following supports: training support – bridging training programmes are available, also they can avail of the new £25 per week training bonus; placement support – FÁS placement service and the local employment service can provide counselling-guidance interview and supported progression onto a range of training and employment supports. Persons can be matched with job vacancies notified by employers. They can also avail of job club supports. A total of £80 per week FÁS job start subsidy is available to employers; back to work allowance for three years is administered by the Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs; and revenue job assist is administered by the Revenue Commissioners where persons can obtain extra tax allowances for themselves and qualifying children for three years and the employer a double wages and PRSI deduction for three years.