Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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Question 121: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if her attention has been drawn to a submission made to FÁS by the City and County Managers Association for local authorities to provide employment for the unemployed people on work placement schemes; if this submission is being considered at present by FÁS and by her; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25913/09]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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In order to respond effectively to the growing numbers of unemployed through the provision of work placements I, in conjunction with my colleague the Minister for Social and Family Affairs, Deputy Mary Hanafin jointly launched the work placement programme on 27 May last. The proposal by the City and County Managers Association and other similar proposals were considered as part of the decision making process which resulted in that launch.

Under this 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. Under this stream 250 places are being ring-fenced for those under 25 years of age. Participants on both streams of the work placement programme will continue to receive their existing social welfare entitlements from the Department of Social and Family Affairs for their duration on the programme.

The work placement programme is available to public sector employers as well as the private sector and interested organisations should contact the FÁS call centre to register their interest in the programme. The proposal by the City and County Managers Association for local authorities to provide employment for the unemployed on work placement schemes could therefore be made to FÁS, as a formal application, in the context of this Programme.