TÁNAISTE EXTENDS LOCAL EMPLOYMENT SERVICE 7 NEW AREAS TARGETED - HARNEY

Tánaiste Mary Harney today (Tuesday, 29th September, 1998) announced that she has approved the establishment of the Local Employment Service in the Partnership Area of Bray, Canal Communities (Bluebell, Inchicore, Islandbridge, Kilmainham and Rialto Partnership, Dublin), Galway City, Monaghan, Southside (comprising twelve areas in Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown), Tralee and Waterford City.

The Tánaiste's initiative is part of her decision to extend the Local Employment Service network to seven new areas. "It is vital that we have the most effective measures of tackling unemployment. This expansion of the LES brings the service to 25 areas and is consistent with the commitment in Partnership 2000 to extend the LES to disadvantaged areas over the lifetime of the programme," the Tánaiste said.

In making the announcement the Tánaiste said "The Government is committed to promoting greater social inclusion throughout the country. The LES is designed to provide quality supports to those people hardest hit by unemployment".

"We have to offer an integrated service to the unemployed, bringing the long-term unemployed back into jobs and offering a preventative strategy to jobseekers at risk of falling into long-term unemployment. The local employment component of the Employment Services (FAS and the LES) targets its supports on the long-term unemployed. To its clients it offers intensive mediation, counselling, a training place or a place on an employment scheme as appropriate. Because it is locally based it can be particularly effective in matching the needs of clients with the needs of local employers."

"The role of the LES complements the Government's Employment Action Plan. The Plan, effective from the beginning of September, offers every young person (under 25) unemployed for 6 months the opportunity to improve their employment prospects through job placement, guidance, training or education. Over time these supports will be extended to other age groups."

"It is my objective that the supports provided to unemployed persons should be client-centred rather than service-centred. This means that there should be the greatest possible co-operation and integration of approach between the different players providing supports, and in particular between the different components of the Employment Service. In this way we not only offer the client the most effective service, we protect the taxpayer's investment."

"In drawing up the LES Plans for agreement with my Department I am asking the Partnerships to be very focused in targeting their clients and to make use to the greatest possible extent of existing infrastructure. This is to ensure that not only do we get the best possible value for money, but that the very best pro-employment measures are designed for those who are long-term unemployed, the Tánaiste said.