David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 618: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number of people who are approaching three months on the live register; the number of people who are currently on the live register; the number of people who have been referred to FÁS for entry onto the national employment action plan since the referral scheme began; the number of participants in the NEAP; if people are removed from the live register once they are in the NEAP; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10582/07]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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At the week ending 23 February 2007 the total live register was 159,399, of whom 47,539, some 30% of the total, were under three months on the live register. The National Employment Action Plan (NEAP) was introduced on a phased basis in September 1998. Under the NEAP people aged 18 and under 64 years who are approaching certain durations on the live register are referred FÁS for interview with a view to job placement or offer of training. Approximately 3,000 people are referred each month. Over the period September 1998 to November 2006, the latest date for which detailed figures are available, 285,000 recipients of unemployment payments have been referred under the NEAP.

People remain on the live register while engaged with FÁS under the NEAP until they take up offers of employment or training. If they do not attend for interview with FÁS, or having engaged with FÁS decline offers of employment or training, their cases are referred back to the social welfare local office for review to determine if they continue to satisfy the conditions for receipt of unemployment payments. The National Employment Action Plan has played an important role in assisting unemployed persons enter or return to the labour force.