Brendan Kenneally (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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Question 109: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the training and other programmes available to people who have recently become unemployed. [28146/09]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 139: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment her plans to incentivise a return to the workforce for persons currently on the live register; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28008/09]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 139 and 109 together.

In terms of unemployment the Government is acutely aware of the negative impacts that unemployment can have on an individual, their family and society as a whole and has invested substantial resources in addressing the unemployment problem.

FÁS employment services together with Local Employment Services have put in place measures designed to increase capacity for the rise in referrals from the Department of Social and Family Affairs (DSFA). Job Search/National Employment Action Plan annual referral capacity has been increased to 147,000 persons in 2009.

The total number of training, activation and work experience places funded by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment through FÁS in 2009 now stands at over 129,000. This is a substantial increase when compared with those available at the end of last year.

In addressing the current challenges in the labour market the Department, in conjunction with FÁS, have enacted several significant measures to improve existing suite of services available to the unemployed. These measures include:

92,000 training places on short courses are available to the unemployed and people on short-time work and will be delivered through three core-training initiatives, Short Courses, Night Courses and Online Courses.

500 places on the employer based redundant apprentices rotation scheme to assist redundant apprentices progress their apprenticeships this year, which involves a subsidy being paid to employers who provide redundant apprentices with the necessary on-the-job experience.

700 places on the Institutes of Technology training programme for redundant apprentices. Combined with existing initiatives for redundant apprentices this means that approximately 3,600 redundant apprentices will now be able to progress their apprenticeships or receive training.

2000 places on the work placement programme which is providing six-month places to individuals who are unemployed including graduates. Participants on the scheme will retain their social welfare entitlements.

277 places on a short-time training programme which is providing training to people on systematic short-time for the days they are not working

2,500 places for those who are unemployed to participate in part-time third level education of which my Department is funding 1,500.

400 places on Community Employment Schemes, which has increased places to 22,700 this year.

Through these initiatives Government is providing these unemployed individuals with the opportunities to improve their skills and competencies. Furthermore we are not only increasing their employability but we are also improving the skills level of our entire labour force, which will benefit us all in the years ahead