Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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Question 126: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment her views on the OECD report Activation Policies in Ireland published in January 2009 which found that spending here on active labour market programmes was significantly lower than in other OECD countries, that Ireland's public employment service was under-staffed and that the proportion of staff time dedicated to implementing an activation agenda and supporting unemployed people was low; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11467/10]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The OECD's report "Activation Policies in Ireland" has provided a valuable contribution in helping to form Ireland's response to our rising unemployment levels. The report is based primarily on statistics and information relating to 2006 and 2007. Since the report's publication Ireland's labour market policy and investment in the area of skills have been re-focused on the growing number of unemployed.

The increased investment and priority that has been given to assisting the unemployed since the OECD report was published is clearly evident in the expansion of both job search supports and active labour market training programmes for the unemployed. FÁS has assigned additional numbers of people to its Employment Services Division and has put in place other measures to significantly expand its capacity. FÁS planned annual referral capacity under the National Employment Action Plan for this year is 154,000 places. This is more than double the equivalent 2008 capacity.

In addition, this year my Department will fund the provision of approximately 147,000 training and work experience places for the unemployed. This compares to the 66,000 places that were delivered in 2008. Some of the new active labour market initiatives introduced in the last year such as the work placement programme are based on similar initiatives, which the OECD report highlighted such as the Australian "Work for the Dole" programme.

The OECD report also suggested that a review of Ireland's National Employment Action Plan be undertaken and this is currently under way. In addition, the OECD suggested that the possibility of making benefits conditional on participation in active labour market programmes be introduced. In budget 2010, the Government decided that jobseekers who refuse a job offer, work placement or offer of a course will have their Jobseekers Allowance/Supplementary Welfare Allowance personal rate reduced to €150 per week.