Séamus Kirk (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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359. To ask the Minister for Social Protection her plans to tackle the high unemployment statistics in County Louth; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31469/14]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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In the first instance, the Government’s primary strategy to tackle unemployment in County Louth, as with the rest of the country, is to create the environment for a strong economic recovery by promoting competitiveness and productivity. Economic recovery will underpin jobs growth.

However, the Government also recognises the need for additional measures to address unemployment in the interim while the economy recovers. This is the rationale behind the Government’s Pathways to Work Strategy which is being led by the Department of Social Protection.

As part of this strategy the Department’s North East Division is taking a very proactive approach to activation and employer engagement. A new employer engagement strategy has been developed for the North East Division and a dedicated employer engagement unit established to assist in the creation of opportunities for Jobseekers.

There have been a number of innovative initiatives undertaken recently which are creating real opportunities for people on the live register. A series of DSP Open/Kick Start training programmes have commenced aimed at long term unemployed young people and will see them much better placed to avail of work opportunities on completion of the programme.

The North East Division has provided on-going support for the National Development & Finance Authority schools refurbishment programme in the Louth/Meath area. A proactive approach to recruiting the full spectrum of construction and engineering employment requirements has led to 23 long term unemployed people securing full time positions. As a result of this positive partnership with DSP the main contractor has requested additional vacancy recruitment outside of main contract.

A Joint initiative between DSP, a large multi-national Dundalk based employer and Skillnets commenced in May 2014 to provide 13 young people from the live register with four FETAC Level 4 modules and Industrial Sewing Skills. The duration of the programme is 5 weeks followed by a 3 week intensive training programme onsite in-company. It is anticipated that job offers for many of the participants will be forthcoming.

Similarly Department officials have been working very closely with a large retailer in Dundalk in advance of a new superstore opening in August and have undertaken innovative joint initiatives aimed at under 24 year olds which has already led to a number of these people being offered full time positions in the new store. These pilot programmes will now be rolled out into other companies across the Division, allowing us to show companies the talent we have on the live register which in turn should lead to increased opportunities for participants.

Three major recruitment fairs were held in Dundalk and Drogheda with a further fair planned to take place in Monaghan in September this year. In addition DSP has hosted on-going employer briefing and breakfast sessions with local employers. The new employer unit is working very closely with local employers and offering a very hands-on proactive service, ensuring we are matching suitable people to vacancies. This approach is beginning to pay dividends with the employer unit fast becoming the first choice recruiter for many employers both large and small in the area.

Department officials in the North East are also beginning work on many new initiatives for their area including establishing a tourism group to identify job opportunities, skills shortages and future need in this and are working closely with the local Chamber of Commerce, Louth economic Forum and Dundalk Business Investment District Scheme to help create opportunities for jobseekers in the area.

At present there are more than 7,000 people employed in companies based in Co. Louth and supported by Enterprise Ireland, IDA Ireland and LEO Louth - the Local Enterprise Office. In 2013 alone, almost 1,000 jobs were created in Co. Louth in companies supported by these three bodies, in comparison to just over 800 created in 2012. This pattern suggests that the jobs that are being created are adding value to the local economy and have every potential to be sustainable.