Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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14. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the extent to which adequate FÁS, JobBridge, retraining or up-skilling courses remain available to her Department with particular reference to the need to address the issues of long-term and youth unemployment; the numbers currently seeking to avail of such courses; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50788/13]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The Government’s Pathways to Work 2013 strategy prioritises the allocation of available resources to the long-term unemployed and to the young unemployed. The goal in Strand 2 of Pathways to Work is: “To provide unemployed people, in particular people who are long-term unemployed and young unemployed people, with opportunities to enhance their job prospects through value-adding work experience, education and training activities.”

A breakdown of likely available places for 2014 is presented in the table below. The programmes where being long-term unemployed is an eligibility requirement are indicated, as are the latest estimates for uptake by young people. For JobsPlus, it is proposed to amend the eligibility requirements to allow young people to access the scheme at lower unemployment duration.