Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
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Question 77: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the steps she is taking, in view of the further increase in the number of people on the live register, published on 29 April 2009, to stem the number of job losses; her plans to provide new training opportunities for those who have lost their jobs and to encourage the creation of new employment opportunities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19830/09]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The total number of people on the Live Register for April 2009 was 384,448, an increase of 188,850 or 96.6% in the 12-month period. Last month's Live Register figures shows that the month on month increase continues to slow, with 13,000 people signing on the Live Register compared with 36,500 in January. In addition, despite the increase in the Live Register figures for April it should also be noted that last month approximately 11,000 people signed off as they had found employment.

Employment and unemployment are measured by the Quarterly National Household Survey and published by the Central Statistics Office. In the fourth quarter of 2008, the most recent quarter for which data is available, employment decreased 86,900 or 4.1% over 12 months to a total of 2,052,800. Unemployment increased by 69,600 or 68.8% in the same period to 170,600. The unemployment rate for this period was 7.7%.

In response to the rising numbers of unemployed the Government has already taken a number of actions, including doubling the capacity of the job search supports system provided by FÁS Employment Services and the partnership-based Local Employment Service to 150,000 places per year for referrals under the National Employment Action Plan.

In addition, my Department is now funding approximately 128,000 activation training and work experience places through FÁS. This is a substantial increase on the 66,000 places, which were available at the end of last year.

Key to these developments has been the coordinated and integrated approach to activation between my Department, the Department of Social and Family Affairs and the Department of Education and Science. As a result of this joint approach the Government announced in the Supplementary Budget that €128 million was being redeployed to the activation area, which is resulting in the creation of 23,435 training and education activation places across my Department, the Department of Social and Family Affairs and the Department of Education and Science.

Included in these places are specific new innovative measures such as a work experience scheme, which will provide 2,000 six-month places to individuals who are unemployed and it will include the placement of graduates. A new training programme of 277 places at a cost of €1 million is being introduced for sustaining vulnerable employment. Under this programme 277 workers who are on a three-day week and receiving social welfare payments for the days they are not working will receive 2 days training a week for a period of 52 weeks. And 1,500 places to enable the unemployed participate in third level education on a part-time basis.

The Government is also assisting redundant apprentices complete their apprenticeships. I announced on 14th May 2009 that over 3600 redundant apprentices will be able to progress their training towards qualification through a number of special measures this year including the employer based rotation scheme, which will assist up to 500 individuals, the agreement between ESB Networks and FÁS to provide training opportunities to up to 400 redundant electrical apprentices.

The interim changes introduced by FÁS to enable 2,000 redundant apprentices progress to their next off-the-job phase without having completed the previous on-the-job phases. The Institutes of Technology are providing 700 places for those who have completed their Phase 4 training but where an on or off-the-job training opportunity is not available.

The Government remains intent on achieving greater capacity within existing resources to meet the on-going challenges in the labour market. In this context we will continue to bring forward further measures to make training and education services available to a greater number of unemployed persons.

While activation measures will assist individuals in securing employment and enhancing their skills, the key to addressing our unemployment problem is the creation of more jobs. That is why the Government remains strongly focussed on supporting and promoting enterprise development to create new jobs. In this regard the Enterprise Development Agencies of my Department, including IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland, are working to ensure that we continue to grow the economy and jobs even in the current more challenging climate.