The proportion of long-term unemployed people on skill training programmes is to be increased by more than 35 per cent in the coming year as part of a Government plan to reduce the number of people on the dole.
The plan also provides for an increase of nearly 30 per cent in the number of long-term unemployed participants in Enterprise Training programmes. These help people set up their own businesses.
However the number of places in Community Employment (CE) schemes, which have been the traditional mainstay for training the long-term unemployed, is to be reduced by 760 this year.
Details of the annual plan, which has been seen by The Irish Times, are to be announced by the Tanaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Ms Harney, later this month.
The plan is in line with the strategy to tackle long-term unemployment outlined by the Tanaiste last year, and with structural changes in FAS training policy begun in 1997.
The decision to transfer more long-term unemployed people into specific skills programmes, which qualify them to work in high-demand occupations, is more expensive than CE placements.
But specific skills training gives them a significantly greater chance of finding a job subsequently.
A major obstacle for some long-term unemployed people thinking of entering specific skills training programmes is that training allowances can be lower than for CE participants. In an effort to tackle this problem, long-term unemployed people will be paid a training bonus of £25 a week on top of existing rates.
This year, 21 per cent of places on specific skills programmes will go to long-term unemployed people, compared with 15 per cent last year and 11 per cent in 1997. In Enterprise Training programmes, 22 per cent of places will go to the long-term unemployed this year, compared with 17 per cent last year and 11 per cent in 1997.
While there will be a significant reduction in the number of places on CE schemes to 39,155 this year, compared with 39,915 last year and 41,515 in 1997, the proportion of long-term unemployed on such schemes will remain constant at 94 per cent.
It is also intended to expand significantly the number of places on the Jobs Initiative programme, which caters exclusively for the long-term unemployed.
This programme is based on a pioneer project by the Conference of Religious of Ireland, which pays the "going rate" for a job to long-term unemployed people working in the social economy. These schemes can range from unskilled to professional positions. For instance, schools may employ caretakers and teachers.
The number of Jobs Initiative places will be 1,925 this year, compared with 1,430 last year and 1,000 in 1997.
Although long-term unemployed people have benefited significantly from the jobs boom, they still form a stubbornly high proportion of all unemployed. Without special targeting the proposed 40,000 new jobs a year between now and 2003 are likely to pass them by.
Another worrying trend is the increase in the average age of the long-term unemployed. as programmes
Course title 1997 LTU 1998 LTU 1999 LTU
Training/ unemployed 12160 11% 11790 15% 12055 21%
Re-integration training 5200 9% 4920 12% 5575 14%
Community training 5090 9% 4410 9% 4220 10%
Enterprise training 840 11% 765 17% 685 22%
Comm. employment 41515 94% 39915 94% 39155 94%
Job Initiative 1000 100% 1430 100% 1925 100%
Jobstart/ Workplace 2735 80% 3195 80% 3765 80%
Total 68540 65% 66425 67% 67380 69%
Table shows number starting courses and the percentage of those who are long-term unemployed (LTU).
Source: Fas