Written answers

Thursday, 12 November 2009

Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment

Departmental Programmes

5:00 pm

Photo of Aengus Ó SnodaighAengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 87: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if she will extend the work placement programme to support more workers in vulnerable employment; her views on whether work experience for unemployed persons, particularly graduates, will make workers more desirable in the labour market and this programme needs to rolled out on a larger basis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40770/09]

Photo of Mary CoughlanMary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The Government is determined and committed to keeping the unemployed as close to the labour market as possible during these challenging times. It is widely accepted that keeping people close to the labour market is important to improve their future employability. That is why the Government introduced the Work Placement Programme.

This Programme is providing an initial 2,000, 6 month, work experience places to unemployed individuals, including graduates. The work experience that participants receive will provide portable and transferable skills in a range of areas that will increase their employability. There are currently 102 participants on the programme and a further 2,019 have registered their interest in participating with FÁS Employment Services. At the present FÁS are currently advertising 527 positions and are continuing to promote the programme at local, regional and national levels.

Owing to the level of interest that has been expressed by a number of stakeholders in the programme, a review of the programme is near completion and has included the eligibility criteria of the programme. It is expected that upon completion of the review, the Work Placement Programme may be amended to allow it to be more accessible to participants and providers.

The Employment Subsidy Scheme, which has been designed specifically as a preventative measure to retain jobs in vulnerable but viable firms that are in danger of being lost. Earlier this week I announced that 7,478 jobs in 453 enterprises are to receive direct support under the first round of the Employment Subsidy Scheme. As a result of this scheme, companies have now committed, as part of their application, to retaining 35,283 jobs. In addition, I announced that a second broader call for applications with extended eligibility criteria open to both exporting and non-exporting firms would be launched next week.

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