David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 243: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if the National Employment Action Plan has been extended to lone parents and people with disabilities as per Towards 2016; the details of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6872/07]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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At present, people aged between 18 and 64 who are approaching 3 months on the Live Register are systematically referred to FÁS for guidance in terms of returning to education, training or employment. Referral at 3 months commenced at the end of October 2006 following a Government decision arising from a commitment in Towards 2016 to apply the National Employment Action Plan referral process earlier than 6 months.

There is also a commitment in Towards 2016 to extend National Employment Action Plan to lone parents and persons with disabilities. This commitment reinforces the goal set out in my Departments Statement of Strategy 2005-2007 "Security with Opportunity" to provide income supports and access to relevant services to people of working age who cannot secure an adequate income from employment and to facilitate them in taking up relevant employment, training education or development opportunities. The activation of lone parents is also being considered in the context of the discussion paper 'Proposals for Supporting Lone Parents' which I published in February 2006.

The management and administration of the National Employment Action Plan rests with an interdepartmental committee comprising representatives from my Department, the Department of Enterprise Trade and Employment and FÁS. This committee is examining the issues to be addressed arising from the commitment given in Towards 2016 to extend the National Employment Action Plan to lone parents and persons with disabilities.