Tom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael)
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Question 1: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of jobs clubs nationally; the number of clients they have dealt with individually for each of the past three years; and if she will make a statement on their role in tackling unemployment. [23371/09]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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FÁS Job Clubs were introduced in 1999 to assist people who were actively seeking employment by providing support for the job search process and an environment in which it could be carried out. Independent Sponsor Groups are contracted by FÁS on a year to year basis to run the programme. Job Clubs are seen as an important resource and intervention for those who have recently completed training programmes or have recently become unemployed. They provide both a formal and structured input as well as a drop-in resource facility. They also help the individual in overcoming the personal effects of unemployment by providing a mutual support forum from people in a similar situation.

56 Job Clubs nationwide provided formal programmes to the following numbers of clients for the past three years: 2006 - 6,400; 2007 - 7,100; 2008 - 8,600. I understand that the number of "drop-ins" would be approximately double these figures. During 2009 it is proposed to increase the number of Job Clubs to over 60.