Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 111: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the new eligibility criteria for the scheme run by FÁS in respect of unemployed young people and recently qualified graduates; the way in which a person may apply for this scheme; the way in which companies who are interested in employing young people can become involved in the scheme; if a publicity campaign has commenced to ensure sufficient employers sign up to meet demand; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42535/09]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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The Work Placement Programme provides 2,000 six-month work experience places to individuals who are unemployed, including graduates and young people.

Following a comprehensive review of the Work Placement Programme the Tánaiste and Minister Hanafin recently announced revised criteria aimed at increasing the accessibility of the Programme to unemployed participants and to firms willing to provide places. The revised criteria will come into effect from the 1st December and the key changes are the following: § The duration of the work placement has been increased to a maximum of 9 months.

§ Recipients of most social welfare payments, including Job Seekers' Allowance and Job Seekers' Benefit, will now be eligible to apply. Unemployed graduates who are not receiving a social welfare payment will also now be eligible to apply.

§ 2009 graduates are now also eligible to apply.

§ The period, for which participants have to be in receipt of a social welfare payment in order to be eligible, has been reduced from six months to three months.

· The Programme will be open to all sectors of the economy including, the private sector, the public sector and the community/voluntary sector.

§ The requirement for a firm to have at least ten employees has been removed.

§ Previously firms could only participate if they did not have redundancies in the previous six months. This constraint has been reduced to three months.

Individuals interested in the programme need only to visit their local FÁS office, who will check their eligibility and register their interest in the programme. They are then provided with contact details of Providers to apply for any placements in which they have an interest. They will also be notified of any new placements that arise that may suit their skills set.

Prospective Providers, can download an application form and e-mail it to FÁS or they can ring 1800 611 116 to request that a form be posted to them.

FÁS has just completed a promotional campaign on regional radio and newspapers to promote the Work Placement Programme and advertisements for the Programme have also been placed in several Business Magazine titles that are due to be published this month.