Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Question 106: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if the Work Placement Programme announced on 27 of May 2009 has been filled; the number of applications received for both schemes; the sectors within which the successful applicants have been placed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24953/09]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The Work Placement Programme was jointly launched by the Minister for Social and Family Affairs, Deputy Mary Hanafin, and I on 27 May last. My Department and FÁS are co-operating closely in relation to its roll-out. Under the programme there are two streams each consisting of 1,000 places of six months duration. The first stream is for graduates who before this year have attained a full award at level seven or above on the National Framework of Qualifications and who have been receiving Job Seeker's Allowance for the last six months. The second stream is open to all other individuals who have been receiving Job Seeker's Allowance for the last six months.

To date 106 people have made applications under both streams, 76 under the graduate placement programme and 30 under the programme which is open to all other individuals. In terms of employer interest, FÁS have received 108 requests for information and 27 employers have been registered. As FÁS are currently in the process of managing placements under both programmes it is too early in the process to provide specific information on placements by sector at this time.

I am determined that placements under both programmes are organised as quickly as possible to ensure that the valuable work experience opportunities which they offer are available to all who wish to avail of them.

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Question 107: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the reason persons must be on the live register for six months in order to be eligible for the Work Placement Programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24954/09]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The Work Placement Programme is a six-month work experience programme for 2,000 individuals who are currently unemployed.

The objective of the Work Placement Programme is to provide invaluable work experience for unemployed persons, including graduates, to improve their skills and to help them into employment as soon as possible. Specifically focusing on persons who have been on the live register for a period of at least six months ensures that participants have been allowed every opportunity to actively search for employment and, if not successful, benefit from the full range of training suites available from FÁS. This, in turn, ensures that participants are job ready, will make the most of their work placement and are better placed to avail of new job opportunities when they become available.