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Local Employment Service

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 July 2019

Tuesday, 23 July 2019

Ceisteanna (2792)

John Brady

Ceist:

2792. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of persons referred to the local employment service by county in 2017, 2018 and to date in 2019, in tabular form. [33674/19]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The Local Employment Services (LES) engages primarily with long-term unemployed jobseekers, but may also engage with short-term unemployed jobseekers where a local need arises. Jobseekers are referred directly to the LES by Intreo offices. In line with best international practice, the contract sets a maximum caseload per mediator (120:1) and jobseekers are referred to LES offices on a replacement basis only. Consequently the LES caseload is fairly constant at around 31,000 clients. The engagement period is for a maximum of 12 months.

The below table shows the number of activation customers who have attended/engaged with the Local Employment Service, by County, in 2017, 2018 and year to date 2019. As the LES is not available in all counties, the table reflects the area where the LES office is located. The Department records when a customer attends/engages with the LES service and some of the numbers below may include those persons who were referred towards the end of the 2016, but who attended/engaged with the service in 2017.

Where caseloads permit the LES increase the time they allocate to work with each individual jobseeker. A Mediator with 101-120 clients may be expected to meet their clients monthly, whereas with 81-100 clients they meet them every three weeks and with 80 or fewer client every two weeks.

Smaller caseloads are key to providing the one to one intensive type of engagement which long term unemployed clients benefit from most.

County

2017

2018

2019 (YTD)

Cork

1787

1781

1203

Dublin

15877

15652

10792

Galway

818

944

671

Kerry

1329

2030

1336

Kildare

1993

2102

1405

Limerick

1936

2371

1683

Louth

1827

1856

1487

Mayo

607

935

971

Monaghan

626

770

632

Waterford

1451

1553

1115

Wexford

1562

1659

1229

Wicklow

598

953

633

Grand Total

30411

32606

23157

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Question No. 2793 answered with Question No. 2643.
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