Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 30 Nov 1999

Vol. 511 No. 6

Written Answers. - Job Initiative.

Seán Ryan

Ceist:

78 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the plans, if any, she has to ensure that workers on the jobs initiative programme awarded a six month extension to their contracts will not become unemployed at the end of their revised contracts; the further plans, if any, she has to ensure progression on to employment for workers on phases two and three of the programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25043/99]

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

The job initiative programme, which was launched as a pilot initiative by the Government in 1996, is an active labour market intervention measure specifically targeted at people who are 35 years of age or over and unemployed or in receipt of lone parents allowance for a minimum of five years.

Deloitte & Touche consultants were commissioned by my Department in April 1999 to undertake a review of the effectiveness of job initiative against its objectives on reaching the end of the first phase of its operation. As the Deputy is aware, I have, in accordance with one of the recommendations made by the consultants, decided to provide a six months extension to participants in phase one of the programme who were due to complete their three year term on the programme on 31 December 1999.

During this additional period on the programme participants will be assessed and their training and educational requirements addressed according to the particular need of the individual. Participants will also be provided with the assistance of FÁS placement services and the local employment services and the encouragement of managing agents to seek alternative employment in the open labour market. It is anticipated that the training/jobseeking needs of participants on phases two and three will be addressed in a similar manner and that this can be accommodated in the three year programme. A considerable amount has been learned from the evaluation of the pilot phase of this programme and future participants will benefit from both enhanced training and active engagement by the employment services, thereby facilitating their return to the open labour market.