Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 7 Nov 2000

Vol. 525 No. 2

Written Answers. - Employment Action Plan.

Denis Naughten

Ceist:

236 Mr. Naughten asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the percentage of interviewees under the employment action plan not being placed in either a job, training or education within one month of their interview in the age groups under 25, 25 to 34 and 35 to 55; the plans she has to improve these statistics; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24210/00]

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

When referred to FÁS, each individual's progress and career guidance process is tracked using a sophisticated caseload tracking system. The aim is to refer within one month as many clients as possible to a job, training or education course or some other support such as a jobs club. The referral month is essentially a period of engagement, preparation and guidance of the job-seeker so that the most appropriate and suitable career path is chosen by them. The real results of this process are therefore more likely to be seen in the subsequent period.

For example, in the case of the 557 young people, unemployed for six months, who were originally referred for FÁS interview in June-last we see that of the 330 young people who had attended for interview by FÁS: 30% (98) had been placed by FÁS in jobs or on programmes at end September (as compared with 23% in August and 16% in July); a further 35% (116) had left the LR; a further 7% (23) had been referred for an upcoming programme place and were still on the LR; 15% (49) were still on the LR and receiving continuing intensive support from their FÁS case-support officer-guidance, assistance with job-search, etc. The proportion in this category had fallen from 25% in August and 35% in July; no current FÁS action was being taken in 13% (44) of cases, even though the individual was still on the LR; and these cases were due for review by DSCFA; 73% of non-attendees had also signed off the LR by the end of September.

The remaining interviewees are either placed, are referred for training, are not ready to progress due to health problems etc., have dropped out of the process or have signed off the live register of their own accord. The following table outlines the position for each category of EAP referrals.

July referrals at the end of August 2000

Referral Band	6 months			18 months			12 months			12 months*			12 months*
Age Band	under 25	%	under 25	%	25-34	%	35-54	%	Total	%
Numbers Interviewed	339	100	43	100	285	100	522	100	1,169	100
Placed in Jobs, Training or Education	52	15	3	7	28	30	71	14	154	13
Signed Off*	33	11	5	13	29	12	48	11	115	11
Referred to Training*	60	21	9	23	43	18	61	14	173	17
Continues with ongoing FÁS Support*	121	42	15	38	107	45	218	48	481	45
Dropped Out*	39	14	3	8	15	6	21	5	78	8
Not Progression Ready*	28	10	5	13	40	17	52	18	155	15
Inactive*	6	2	3	8	3	1	21	5	33	3
Total Interviewees Left Live Register	85	25	8	19	57	22	119	23	269	23

*As percentage of those not placed in jobs, training or education.

A new service called "Job Connect" has just been launched by FÁS employment services which is designed to improve immediate access of job-seekers to suitable vacancies. Using the 1850-611116 number, job-seekers in the Dublin area initially, can have immediate telephone access to a trained FÁS employment services officer. The job-seeker can be transferred directly by phone to an employer who has a vacancy that matches the agreed career path of the job-seeker. This is achieved through conference-calling technology and newly developed FÁS software systems.

Question No. 237 taken with Question No. 234.