Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 46: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the level of co-operation that exists between her Department and FÁS; the role of the facilitator; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23201/09]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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A high degree of cooperation and coordination exists at both policy and operational level between the Department of Social and Family Affairs and FÁS. Both sides operate under a memorandum of understanding which is updated periodically. Senior officials of the department hold regular joint meetings with FÁS and the Department of Enterprise Trade and Employment. There are also regular meetings between officials of the Department and FÁS at regional and local level. The Department works closely with FÁS in providing opportunities for people on social welfare to access the range of training and employment services afforded by that organisation. An important area of this cooperation is in relation to the joint National Employment Action Plan whereby people are referred to FÁS when they reach 3 months on the live register.

The Department's facilitators work with social welfare recipients of working age, including people in receipt of jobseekers payments, people parenting alone, people in receipt of disability welfare payments and people providing care, to promote participation and social inclusion. The current economic climate has determined that a large part of a facilitator's work at present is with people on the live register.

Facilitators work with customers to identify appropriate training or development programmes which will enhance the skills that the individual has and ultimately improve their employment chances, as well as help them continue to develop personally. Facilitators develop individual progression plans with the customer. Facilitators are located throughout the country and are assigned to cover a geographical area. Facilitators work closely with FÁS and other agencies at a local level to identify and target appropriate education, training and development opportunities.

A facilitator also deals with referrals from local offices, the department's inspectorate and people in receipt of social welfare payments who may themselves decide to seek the service of a facilitator. The facilitator service may also be sought by someone who has a business idea, who wishes to avail of the back to work enterprise allowance or by someone who intends to return to education under the back to education programme. In addition, one of the roles of the departments facilitator's is to engage with other agencies to enhance local working relationships and to ensure that agencies work together to provide services to customers in receipt of welfare payments. Facilitators are also engaged in extensive information provision to individuals, organisations and communities, about the services of the department.

As a complement to the local referral system, a formal targeted programme of activation was introduced under the National Development Plan (NDP). Under this programme, the Department actively selects cases for referral to facilitators. Facilitators work in co-operation with other relevant service providers such as FÁS, VECs, the Adult Education Guidance Initiative, the HSE and other local agencies. The number of facilitators in place, their workload, and the effectiveness of the service will continue to be monitored under the National Development Plan (NDP).

Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 47: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number and percentage of people referred to FÁS in 2008; the number and percentage of people referred to FÁS who have left the live register; the number and percentage of people referred to FÁS who remain on the live register; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23202/09]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The National Employment Action Plan, operated jointly with FÁS, is the main activation measure for jobseekers. It has been in operation since 1998 and has proven successful in that period in assisting people on the live register back into employment. It provides for a systematic engagement of the employment services with unemployed people.

• In the period January to end of December, 2008 a total of 60,260 persons were referred to FÁS - this is an increase of 17% (8,808) over the same period in 2007.

• 33,919 (56%) of the total referred had left the Live Register by the end of January 2009.

• 26,341 (44%) of the total referred were still on the Live Register at the end of January 2009.

The Employment Action plan process is a key element in addressing the progression needs of those on the Live Register. It provides a stimulus to job search and affords an opportunity to explore, under professional guidance, the full range of employment and training services offered by FÁS.

Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 48: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the details on the job search programme, which is being undertaken by FÁS in co-operation with her Department; the way it operates; the number of referrals; the number of people placed in employment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23203/09]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The National Employment Action Plan/Job Search, operated jointly with Fás, is the main activation measure for jobseekers. This strategy provides for systematic engagement by the FÁS employment services with unemployed people and is a key element of the Government's labour market policy. Under the Plan, all persons between the ages of 18 and 65 years who is approaching 3 months on the Live Register, are identified by the Department of Social and Family Affairs and referred to FÁS for interview with the aim of assisting them to enter/re-enter the labour market. Fás also provides a range of certified, short, flexible, modular programmes designed to upskill redundant workers so that they can enhance their prospects of securing employment.

The Employment Action plan process is fundamental in addressing the progression needs of those on the Live Register. It provides a stimulus to job search and affords an opportunity to explore, under professional guidance, the full range of employment and training services offered by FÁS. In the period January to end of December, 2008 a total of 60,260 persons were referred to FÁS. 40,933 (68%) were interviewed by FÁS and 7,846 were placed in jobs, training or education. In the period January to end of March, 2009 (the latest date for which figures are available), 16,740 approx. persons were referred to FÁS. Some 12,580 (75%) of those referred were interviewed by FÁS and 1074 (6.4%) were placed in jobs, training or education.

In response to the increase in the unemployment, Job Search/National Employment Action Plan has now nearly doubled for 2009 from 6,500 to 12,250 cases per month. This represents an unprecedented increase in capacity for this programme.