Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail)
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171. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she is satisfied with her Department’s actions in ensuring that those in long-term unemployment are supported by her Department in their attempts to return to the workforce; the number of long-term unemployed who returned to employment annually from 2011 to date in 2014; the number and percentage of long-term unemployed during that time; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40233/14]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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186. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the extent to which her Department continues to monitor fluctuations in the number of youth unemployed; the extent to which progress continues to be noted in respect of improvements in the situation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40372/14]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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187. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the extent to which her Department continues to focus on the long-term unemployed with a view to identifying the extent to which ongoing reduction may be achieved; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40373/14]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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189. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the extent to which she and her Department have identified the most successful means of addressing the issue of long-term and youth unemployment; her expectations in this regard in 2015; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40375/14]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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192. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the extent to which she and her Department continues to monitor the age profile of those on the live register with a view to facilitating their efforts to return to work; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40378/14]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 171, 186, 187, 189 and 192 together.

In the first instance, the Government’s primary strategy to reduce long term unemployment and youth unemployment is through policies to create the environment for a strong economic recovery by promoting competitiveness and productivity. Economic recovery will underpin jobs growth. This strategy is working. Employment has risen by over 75,000 since 2012. The unemployment rate is falling and is currently at 11.1%, the lowest rate in 5 years – and is down from a peak of just over 15% in 2011.

The most recent QNHS figures for long term unemployment show that since a peak in Q1 2012 of 204,000, the numbers had fallen by 57,800 as of Q2 2014, a reduction of 28% (see Figure 1 below). The percentage of the labour force who are long-term unemployed (the long-term unemployment rate) rose from 8.2% in 2011 Q1 to 9.5% in Q1 2012 before falling over the last two years to a recent low of 6.8% in Q2 2014.