Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)

I would like more interaction between FÁS and those on the live register. Currently, 1,620 interview slots are available and more use could be made of them. I did not outline the number of people who leave the live register when invited by FÁS for interview. That means FÁS has capacity to call more people than it anticipates turning up. Of the 40,000 clients referred to the agency by the Department between July and August this year, 26,000 were interviewed. However, 20,000 people had left the live register, which includes those who did not show for interview or who had secured employment. I have raised this issue with FÁS officials.

I also mentioned to them that I am concerned about the number of people the agency is unable to place because they need more support. That is why an additional ten facilitators were employed from September to work directly with these people to establish their needs. Do they have basic education or literacy problems? What training do they need? We are also ensuring people are recalled by FÁS more frequently than in the past. Joint meetings take place regularly between the agency and the Department to review this policy. It would be wrong not to acknowledge the successes where people have been placed in jobs, training and education. However, there is scope for more placements and that is why I have been working with the agency on this.

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