Written answers
Wednesday, 19 December 2018
Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection
Unemployment Data
Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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556. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the extent of long-term unemployment here; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53838/18]
Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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Government policy to reduce unemployment is twofold. First, through policies set out in the Action Plan for Jobs, to create an environment in which business can succeed and create jobs; and second, through Pathways to Work to ensure that as many of these new jobs and other vacancies that arise in our economy are filled by people taken from the Live Register, and in particular the long-term unemployed.
To date, these policies have been effective in reducing long-term unemployment. For example, the most recent data from the Labour Force Survey shows that the rate of long-term unemployment in Ireland has fallen from a peak of 9.5% in 2012 to 2.1%. by the third quarter of 2018. Ireland has thus already brought the long term unemployment rate below 2.5%, a target set out in Pathways to Work2016-2020.
Activation policy continues to focus on support measures for the long-term unemployed. The Pathways to Work 2016-2020strategy prioritises long-term unemployed people, most notably through the roll-out of JobPath to engage more systematically with this group; targeted wage subsidies under JobsPlus; and through reserved places for long-term unemployed jobseekers on employment and training programmes.
The table below shows the most recent end of month statistics on the number of people availing of a range of programmes targeted primarily at the long-term unemployed. Statistics for October 2018 are compared with those for October 2017. Demand for places has fallen in line with a reduction in long-term unemployment levels.
Activation Programmes (October 2017 and October 2018)
| Activation Schemes | Oct-17 | Oct-18 |
|---|---|---|
| Back to Work Enterprise allowance scheme – self-employed strand. | 10,017 | 7,004 |
| Short-term Enterprise Allowance | 423 | 337 |
| Total - Back to Work schemes | 10,440 | 7,341 |
| Part-time Job Incentive | 422 | 308 |
| TÚS - Community Work Placement Initiative | 6,359 | 6,705 |
| JobBridge -National Internship Scheme | 0 | 0 |
| Gateway (2013) | 67 | 2 |
| Other Activation Programmes | 6,848 | 7,015 |
| Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme (VTOS) | 5,000 | 5,000 |
| Back to Education Allowance | 10,840 | 8,892 |
| Total - Back to Education Courses: | 15,840 | 13,892 |
| Community Employment Schemes (excluding Supervisors) | 21,763 | 21,243 |
| FAS (Solas) full time training for the unemployed | 6,085 | 5,844 |
| TOTAL | 60,976 | 55,335 |
This scheme was introduced from 1st May 2009. It provides immediate support for someone in receipt of Jobseekers Benefit who wants to start a business.
This scheme was closed to new applications from 21 October 2016.
BTEA figures include all schemes but participants from JA & JB are not entitled to BTEA during the summer holidays. Includes Momentum participants from February 2013.
The figure for 2017 excludes those on blended training programmes.
The policy approach to tackle long term unemployment, and continuing economic recovery, will support further reductions in long-term unemployment and add to the substantial improvements in the labour market that have been seen over the last few years.
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