Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The CSO’s Labour Force Survey is the official measurement of unemployment in the State. It is welcome that the most recent unemployment rate for the State is 4.4 per cent in Q2, 2023, which is a level generally considered to be full employment.

The unemployment blackspots profile was developed by the CSO using Census 2016 employment data. Census 2022 employment data is scheduled to be released in November. It should be noted that this profile is indicative, and not based on the internationally accepted methodology for the measurement of unemployment.

Employment services are provided across the State, including Limerick city, under the framework of the government’s national employment services strategy, Pathways to Work 2021-2025,which was launched during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. The strategy aims to support people in returning to work after the pandemic and to support those who faced barriers to employment before the pandemic in finding and sustaining quality employment.

The approach adopted by my Department is that the services delivered by the public employment services, delivered by Intreo and Intreo Partners, are focused on unemployed individuals rather than on areas. This means that those areas where unemployed individuals are most concentrated will also be the areas that receive a greater share of income support payments and activation and employment services.

The Department provides a range of services to jobseekers in Limerick city through Intreo the Public Employment Service (PES). Two Job Coaches and ten Employment Personal Advisors (EPAs) serve Limerick city through Intreo. Intreo Partners Local Area Employment Services (LAES) and Intreo Partners National Employment Service (NES) are contracted by the Department to provide intensive individual support to long-term unemployed jobseekers referred by Intreo. So far in 2023 there were a total of 2,190 referrals to Intreo Partners from the Limerick Intreo Centre (1,224 referrals to Intreo Partners LAES and 966 referrals to Intreo Partners NES).

Regular activities by the Limerick PES include Jobs Fairs, which are regularly held in each of Limerick City’s regeneration areas; information sessions for Community Employment (CE) schemes with scheme coordinators; and information sessions for One Parent Family and Jobseekers Transitional Payment recipients.

The PES collaborates with local stakeholders including Skillnet Ireland and the local Chamber of Commerce, and monthly meetings are held with the PAUL Partnership around the Back to Work Enterprise Allowance. There is a dedicated EPA who attends the Limerick City Regeneration Committee’s monthly meetings, and a dedicated EPA to respond to employer queries about Employer Services offered by the Department.

I am therefore confident that the range of measures being undertaken by my Department, in conjunction with other relevant Departments, agencies and stakeholders, is effective at working with jobseekers across the State, including in Limerick city.