The Irish National Organisation of the Unemployed has criticised the decision of the Tanaiste, Ms Harney, that everyone who is unemployed in Ballyfermot and Kilkenny will be interviewed by FAS over the coming months. It rejects her claim that this is because "statistics to do with the qualifications or skills of the unemployed are very bad" and says this information is available from the 1996 Census.
The INOU believes that the interviews are a way of fast-forwarding the Employment Action Plan, which targets under-25s who have been unemployed for 12 months. Under this scheme, people are interviewed to see if they are seeking work and what training they might need.
If people don't attend the FAS interview, or don't accept the options offered, the Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs will be informed. It can decide on a further interview and if it is decided that the participant is not genuinely seeking work, welfare payments can be terminated. This decision can be appealed.