Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 147: To ask the Minister for Social Protection her plans to change the terms of the FÁS work placement programme for participants in view of the fact that participants in the new national internship scheme receive an amount of €50 in addition to the retention of their welfare benefits. [19289/11]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The FÁS Work Placement Programme and the new JobBridge National Internship Scheme are two separate schemes. The Work Placement Programme will continue to operate and will offer people another stream through which to obtain valuable work experience. I have no plans to change the terms of the Programme at this time.

John Lyons (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 148: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the number of meetings on average a person who signed on the live register would have with an adviser from FÁS within the first year of their claim; the length of time it takes on average, by area from the initial claim, for FÁS to contact these persons to arrange such meetings; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19417/11]

John Lyons (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 162: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if in view of the increased numbers of persons who are now classified as long-term unemployed, if she will provide details by area, of the average length of time it takes for a person who signs on the live register to be entered into a mentoring programme which includes career, education and training advice from a skilled adviser; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19418/11]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 148 and 162 together.

The National Employment Action Plan (NEAP) is the main activation measure for jobseekers and provides for a systematic engagement of the employment services with unemployed people. Under the plan, all eligible persons between the ages of 18 and 65 years who are approaching 3 months on the Live Register, are identified by the Department of Social Protection and referred to FÁS Employment Services' Officers (ESOs) for interview with the aim of assisting them to enter/re-enter the labour market. The number of interviews/meetings people referred through the NEAP will have with an ESO or a Local Employment Services (LES) Mediator will vary depending on each client's individual needs. Self-referred clients may also have a guidance interview with an ESO/LES Mediator with subsequent meetings depending on individual needs and circumstances. The NEAP process is a key element in addressing the progression needs of those on the Live Register. It provides a stimulus to job search and affords an opportunity to explore, under professional guidance, the full range of employment and training services offered by the Employment Services. In this context, FÁS, in its role as the national training service, will deliver at least 90,000 training places for the unemployed in 2011.

People remain on the live register while engaged with the Employment Service under the NEAP until they take up offers of employment or training. If they do not attend for interview with the Employment Service or, having engaged, decline offers of employment or training, their cases are referred back to the social welfare local office for review to determine if they continue to satisfy the conditions for receipt of jobseekers payments. There is a statutory obligation on recipients of jobseekers payments to be available for and genuinely seeking full time employment.

People, who, for valid reasons, are unable to avail of the opportunities for placement in employment, training or education provided, continue to receive payment. In such cases, the Department's facilitator service is available to assist them in identifying barriers to participation and exploring alternative progression routes. It may also be noted that the Programme for Government states that a new National Employment and Entitlements Service will be established under the management of the Department of Social Protection. The objective is to integrate the unemployment payments elements currently provided directly by the Department of Social Protection and the employment services currently provided by FÁS into a single service.

A key objective of the Government in relation to the new service is that it will offer users a high level of personalised employment support and prioritise the provision of more intensive support for those on the live register who are identified as being most at risk of long-term unemployment. This will be achieved through the use of proactive approaches such as profiling and adopting modern case management systems.