John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

All schemes introduced are evaluated on an ongoing basis. The problem is that this tends to be a quantitative evaluation, that is, whether the scheme is achieving its goals and targets. It normally involves numbers of participants and whether they have moved from A to B. It is the qualitative evaluation which causes the problems because it is more suggestive. Accordingly, such an evaluation is more difficult to do in a timely fashion.

Dr. Sweeney raised the issue of soft skills which have been raised at the committee before. The one piece that seems to be missing is that there are few positive suggestions on how soft skills should be developed, as well as what would be become a norm or a core. Everyone, including employers, says how important they are. However, there is little importance attached from a training point of view on how those soft skills might be developed.

We referred to a range of schemes and initiatives aimed at the individual participating and progressing. In the Dublin area and to in other geographic areas throughout the country, there are particular pockets of high unemployment. By and large, these areas have remained the same in my lifetime, despite different programmes and initiatives. In addition to individual schemes and programmes, what needs to be done in those areas to ensure they would no longer be deemed employment blackspots or areas of high unemployment?