Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)

The Deputy mentioned people who feel displaced and one begins to feel displaced and alienated from the labour force if one is out of employment for longer than 12 months. That remains a key sector for activation.

Our Department works with FÁS in an interdepartmental group with the Department of Social and Family Affairs to activate a significant cohort of the live register who are not designated unemployed but who are on welfare because there are barriers to their re-entry to the workforce. These may be people with disabilities or lone parents. We have to change mind sets to endeavour to reach out to that 4% who need access to the labour market. We are satisfied that the rate is at 1.3%.

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