Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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Question 10: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if she is satisfied with the integration of local social welfare offices, local partnership areas and local employment services in meeting the needs of recently unemployed people. [9279/09]

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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Question 55: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs when she expects all catchment areas of social welfare offices to be co-ordinated with the catchment area of local partnership areas and local employment services; and the steps she is taking in this regard. [9280/09]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 10 and 55 together.

The Department has worked closely with Area Based Partnership Companies since their inception on issues relating to the broad social inclusion agenda and in particular on addressing the needs of the unemployed and the long term unemployed, and in doing so, has worked closely with other members of Partnerships at Board and working committee levels.

The Local Employment Service is under the aegis of FÁS and the Department has for many years worked closely with FÁS in particular in delivering the National Employment Action Plan under which unemployed customers are systematically referred to FÁS to support their efforts in accessing employment.

There is very close co-operation between the local offices of the Department, local partnership companies and local employment services including FÁS. Under the memorandum of understanding between FÁS and the Department of Social and Family Affairs, staff from both agencies hold regular meetings in order to discuss the operation of the employment action plan and to deal with any issues arising.

The Department has representatives on the board of local partnership companies throughout the country. In recent times the discussion has focused on how best the agencies can work together in supporting the unemployed with their training and educational needs at a time when there are limited employment opportunities. All agencies are challenged on how best to support unemployed 'job ready' customers who have high educational qualifications. However some of these customers have gone directly from college into employment and are in need of training in job seeking and interview skills.

These meetings at local level between officials of the Department and those providing employment supports ensure enhanced services to customers.

The operation of Partnership companies and the programmes they implement is primarily a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs. However, I understand that through that Department's cohesion process, the services provided by the Urban Partnerships and Integrated Companies are now available county-wide to all residents irrespective of location.

The Department of Social and Family Affairs, through its employment support and other services, has assisted many people away from long-term unemployment and back into the workforce. At present a network of facilitators works closely at local level with social welfare customers, including those on the live register, in order to determine training and development needs. In recent months the number of facilitator posts has been increased from 40 to 60. These facilitators arrange, through direct provision or jointly with other agencies, appropriate training and developmental programmes to equip customers to progress to employment, enhance their parenting skills or otherwise improve their life opportunities. Facilitators have access to some additional services, such as the special projects and family services funds which provide funding for specialised training and supports for those who are distant from the labour market and who need additional help in preparing them for further training and employment.

The Social and Economic Participation Programme under the national Development Plan (NDP) 2007-2013 is aimed at all people of working age regardless of the circumstances that led the person to require income maintenance. The cost of the programme will be €50m over the duration of the NDP 2007-2013. In the first 3 years €13m will be invested, following which the programme will be reviewed and a decision made on the extent and content of the programme over the following years. The enhanced facilitation service will build on the Department's existing experience and income maintenance relationship with the people concerned, in co-operation with other relevant service providers such as FÁS, VECs, the HSE and other local agencies. The vision is of a single transparent system with a primary focus on the customer.

For those on the Live Register, the main welfare to work measure is the National Employment Action Plan (NEAP). Under this plan, people who are approaching 3 months on the Live Register are referred to FÁS for interview with a view to job placement or an offer of training.

There is also a range of support services in place to assist unemployed people, particularly the long-term unemployed, lone parents, and sickness related welfare recipients to return to the active labour market either by taking up employment or becoming self-employed. These are provided through the operation of the Back to Education and Back to Work Allowance Schemes, the Technical Assistance and Training Grants and the PRSI Exemption Scheme. Activation and Family Services Programme and the Second Chance Education Opportunities Scheme also offer supports to social welfare customers and other disadvantaged persons to assist them to improve their employability and personal and family situations.

Overall, I am satisfied that the existing arrangements together with the proposed wider activation programme under the NDP provide a satisfactory level of coordination among all of the relevant bodies to ensure that the needs of the most marginalised are met in a positive manner.

In the light of the extent of this coordination the alignment of the catchment areas of Social Welfare offices, local Partnership areas and Local Employment Services is not considered necessary.