Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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515. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her views on the levels of long-term unemployed; the action she is taking to ensure all opportunities are given to the long-term unemployed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28785/18]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The Government’s primary strategy to tackle unemployment – including long-term unemployment – is twofold. The Action Plan for Jobs supports continuing strong economic recovery and employment growth. Policies and actions to ensure that unemployed people benefit from the increase in employment are set out in the strategy paper Pathways to Work 2016-2020.

To date, these policies have been effective in reducing long-term unemployment.

Latest available data shows that the long-term unemployment rate has fallen from a peak of 9.5% in 2012 to 2.1% in Q1 2018. The actual number of people out of work for a year or more has fallen by more than three-quarters, from 215,000 in early 2012 to 50,000 now.

Long-term unemployment can be expected to fall further this year in line with the continuing forecast fall in overall unemployment. Already, we have exceeded our target to bring long-term unemployment below 2.5% in accordance with Pathways to Work targets for 2020.

Policy continues to focus on support for the long-term unemployed. For example, the Pathways to Work 2016-2020 strategy prioritises long-term unemployed people – most notably through the roll-out of JobPath to engage more systematically with this group; through targeted wage subsidies under JobsPlus; and through reserved places for long-term unemployed jobseekers on employment and training programmes.

This continued policy focus, together with the continuing strong performance of the economy, will support further reductions in long term unemployment.