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.