Vol. 551 No. 2
385 Mr. Flanagan asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs if he proposes to establish an early warning profiling system for people in the long-term unemployed sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9357/02]
The establishment of a profiling system to identify people likely to drift into long-term unemployment was recommended in a recent ESRI report which was commissioned by my Department. That report has been complemented by a more recently completed ESRI study on behalf of the Combat Poverty Agency which also recommends the establishment of a profiling system.
Before an accurate profiling model can be developed, a longitudinal survey is required to identify the characteristics associated with long-term unemployment, along with the relative impact of each characteristic and thereby develop a statistical model of characteristics likely to lead a person to remain on the live register. A survey of this type is currently under way in my Department's local office in Galway in conjunction with the ESRI which expects to be in a position to report on this project by mid-2002.
My Department as part of its employment support programme is engaged in pro-actively identifying long-term unemployed people on the live register who require a range of targeted supports to help them make the transition to work or further training and education. The types of services which my Department's job facilitators offer are broadly in line with the recommendations in both of the reports referred to.
