Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 23 October 2019
68. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the details on the €2.5 million announced in budget 2020 to target specific job activation and training supports for groups that are most distant from the labour market or have challenges entering the workplace including returnships for women; the number of persons she plans to target with this initiative; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43605/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn Budget 2020, I announced the targeted allocation of €2.5m to design and implement measures that will improve the work and training readiness across targeted groups. This includes those who need additional support to maximise the opportunities being provided in a labour force that has grown consistently over the past twenty consecutive quarters. These groups include potential returners who have been out of the work-force after periods of caring for family members, members of the Travellers or Roma communities, ex-offenders, people with disabilities and young unemployed people.
The focus of the measures will span a number of approaches. For some people in scope the emphasis will be on the development of soft skills, personal development and pre-employment supports that can build motivation, self-belief and self-efficacy, recognising that these competencies are important in preparing for work and training. These will lead on to a focus on job-specific skills, work-experience and supported job-search. Some people in scope, including some women who have significant prior work experience but may have been out of the workforce for some time, may be in a position to commence job-focused training, work experience and supported job-search immediately. The measures will be designed and implemented as initiatives that test and develop good practices and prove enhanced outcomes for the cohorts affected so that similar approaches can then be applied across Intreo activation services as appropriate.
It is anticipated that these initiatives will involve more than 1,500 clients over the year.
I trust this clarifies the situation for the Deputy.
