Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 4 Jul 2001

Vol. 540 No. 2

Written Answers. - Long-term Unemployed.

Breeda Moynihan-Cronin

Ceist:

39 Mrs. B. Moynihan-Cronin asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs if he has any plans to further assist long-term unemployed people back into employment; and if he was consulted regarding the changes to FÁS. [20120/01]

Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs (Mr. D. Ahern)

My Department's employment support services consists of three pillars which are designed to assist and encourage long-term unemployed and other long-term welfare recipients to return to work, training or further education.

The first pillar is the "Back To Work" allowance scheme which incentivises and encourages long-term unemployed people, lone parents and certain people with disabilities to return to work by allowing them to retain part of their social welfare payment when they take up employment or self-employment.

Last year I introduced an enhanced version of this scheme specifically targeted at people who had been five years or more on the Live Register. People participating in this can avail of a six week training period either on or off the job and during this period receive a top up of £35 a week in addition to their weekly unemployment payment. When they take up employment they will be paid a bonus of £200 and a further payment also of £200 after they have completed six months work.

The "Back to Work" allowance scheme has been highly successful since its introduction and to date more than 75,000 people, the vast majority of whom were previously long-term unemployed, have taken part in the scheme. Currently there are more than 36,000 participants in the scheme, approximately half of whom are engaged in a wide range of self employment options.

The second pillar of my Department's employment support service is the "Back to Education" allowance programme. This is a second chance educational opportunities programme designed to encourage and facilitate unemployed people, lone parents and people with disabilities to improve their skills and qualifications with a view to returning to the work force. Courses covered under the scheme range from second level through to third level postgraduate courses of study.

In cases where a person's choice of course falls outside the realm of formal second and third level courses for which the "Back to Education" allowance is payable, he or she can avail of approved courses of education, training and development. Participants on these courses may continue to receive their social welfare payments for the duration of the course.

The final pillar consists of the Departments locally based jobs facilitators. Their primary role is to assist long-term unemployed people and other long-term welfare dependants back to work, training or further education by providing them on an individual basis with assistance to access the necessary programmes or supports which their circumstances demand.

My Department's employment support services have been very successful in assisting people away from the cycle of long-term unemployment and back into the workforce. The services provided are under constant review and I am satisfied as to their continued relevance and flexibility in today's job market.

My Department actively co-operates with other agencies involved in assisting people to make the transition from unemployment to work. We work very closely with FÁS in the operation of the employment action plan at both national and local level and the success of this plan to date is due in no small way to the good working relationship which exists between our organisations.

Changes to FÁS schemes are a matter primarily for my colleague the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment. Consultation takes place as a matter of routine between our organisations where changes impact directly on my Departments programmes or where they require the co-operation of my Department.