Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 128: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment further to Parliamentary Question No. 107 of 23 June 2009, if she will amend the rules pertaining to entry to the work placement programme in view of the fact that many graduates will have taken part-time work, or lowly paid work in fields not utilising their qualifications in preference to signing on the live register and that they are therefore excluded from entry to the programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26408/09]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I have no plans to amend the rules governing the entry requirements to the work placement programme at this time.

The objective of the work placement programme is to provide 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 opportunities when they become available.