Mr. Mick Creedon:

I must state that I have no absolute evidence that the increase in the numbers signing on in Ballymun in terms of the under 25s is a direct cause of the end of the pilot, but all I would say is that it is a fact.

On the pilot, we reorganised the local employment services, LES. We were asked to do that by the Department as part of the implementation of the pilot. We allocated five guidance officers to work on the Youth Guarantee. That reduced the ratio of unemployed person to guidance officer. That enabled them to spend more time with the unemployed person to work out the plan and then support him or her to implement that plan.

At the end of the pilot we reorganised the service again and, again, the numbers overall coming into the service increased as part of the contract. The ratio went up. We would like to try to reduce that ratio further. That would allow us to spend more time working with the client to make sure they are embedded in their career plan and that they are supported to progress.