Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 15 May 2012
265 Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide an update on any plans to try to match up local people with local projects in construction, particularly if these construction projects are funded out of the Exchequer or by State agencies, local authorities, schools and so on; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23658/12]
Amharc ar fhreagra277 Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide an update regarding her need to match up unemployed trades people with construction projects in their local area, particularly projects funded out of the Exchequer or funded by State agencies, local authorities or schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23702/12]
Amharc ar fhreagra282 Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the need for her to ensure that unemployed trades people are matched up with vacancies on construction projects in their area, particularly ones funded by the Exchequer or carried out by or on behalf of State agencies, local authorities and public schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23738/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 265, 277 and 282 together.
Unemployed trades people on the Live Register have access to the services of the DSP Employment Service (recently transferred from FÁS to the Department), either by voluntary contact with the service or by referral under the Employment Action Plan. All vacancies that have been notified to the service through its National Call Centre are displayed on the Department's website as well as on self-service kiosks in employment service offices. Individual clients will also have relevant local vacancies drawn to their attention as part of their engagement with officers of the employment service (for example during or as part of the follow-up to a guidance interview).
Notification of vacancies to the employment service is a matter for the employer concerned. The number of skilled building jobs notified to the service has been running at very low levels, having fallen from 5,000 in 2007 to about 800 in 2012. Just over 250 such jobs have been notified to the service in the first four months of 2012.
