Vol. 507 No. 2
41 Mr. C. Lenihan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if she will re-assure participants in the jobs initiative who were long-term unemployed regarding their future beyond 31 December 1999. [16756/99]
42 Mr. C. Lenihan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if her attention has been drawn to the concerns of participants of phase 1 of the jobs initiative regarding the security of their positions beyond 31 December 1999. [16757/99]
43 Mr. C. Lenihan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the future for phase 1 of the jobs initiative project. [16758/99]
44 Mr. C. Lenihan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the future she sees for the jobs initiative scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16759/99]
45 Mr. C. Lenihan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if she has received interim recommendations from consultants (details supplied) with regard to their independent evaluation of the jobs initiative scheme. [16760/99]
46 Mr. C. Lenihan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the date for the publication of the study (details supplied) into the jobs initiative scheme. [16761/99]
47 Mr. C. Lenihan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the role she sees for phase 1 of the jobs initiative scheme in the context of her overall review of the social economy. [16762/99]
48 Mr. C. Lenihan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if the managing agents of phase 1 of the jobs initiative pilot projects will retain the same quota of positions after 31 December 1999. [16763/99]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47 and 48 together.
The jobs initiative is a pilot work re-integration programme targeted at the very long-term unemployed persons on the live register for five years or more and aged 35 or over. Jobs initiative participants have access to three years temporary employment. Budget ‘99 added an additional 875 places to jobs initiative provision, bringing the total number of places available to 2,875.
There were 1,000 jobs initiative places allocated in the first phase in 1996 and these participants will complete their three year term in December 1999. The review of the jobs initiative programme which has been commissioned is expected to be completed in late July.
Decisions on the future of the programme, how it might be improved or better targeted for example, and on the issue of an extension for some of the current participants will be taken when consideration of the review is completed.
