Vol. 510 No. 3
330 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the number of job facilitators in his Department; the plans, if any, he has to increase these numbers; and the training and experience necessary to become a job facilitator. [22530/99]
There are 34 jobs facilita tors, including four job-sharing, operating throughout the country together with ten regional co-ordinators, making a total of 44 staff operating in this area. Their primary function is to support unemployed people in seeking job opportunities or opportunities for self-employment and to direct them towards the wide range of initiatives and options provided by various Government agencies.
Jobs facilitators have encouraged over 53,000 people to take up employment or self-employment opportunities with the support of the back to work allowance since 1993.
The question of appointing additional jobs facilitators is kept under constant review having regard to the Department's overall staffing requirements and Government policy on public service numbers.
They form a very effective and important component of my Department's approach to assisting unemployed people to return to work.
The jobs facilitators work in close conjunction with local office staff and staff numbers are kept under review depending on the level of work arising in the offices, with the aim of ensuring that an effective service continues to be given and that available resources are used in the most effective way possible.
Jobs facilitators are recruited at the higher executive officer grade and most of them would have direct experience in dealing with unemployed people. A wide range of specific training programmes have also been provided. Their training needs are monitored on an ongoing basis and appropriate additional training is made available as the requirements and the nature of the job dictate.
