13 May 2011
Employment Action Plan doesn't do the job, says Aengus Ó Snodaigh
THE Labour/Fine Gael Government's Employment Action Plan is just not fit for purpose and doesn't do the job it's supposed to, Sinn Féin Social Protection spokesperson Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD has said.
I acknowledge the commitment in the Jobs Initiative to reinvigorate the National Employment Action Plan. That plan is badly in need of an update as it is no longer fit to activate people in any significant numbers. However, effective activation measures are resource intensive and I fear the Government are not making the necessary investment.
It takes money and staff to conduct the requisite interviews and meetings with job-seekers, to properly map and match each and every job-seeker's skills and experience with the appropriate education, training and ultimately a job opportunity.
He said that last month the Government made a commitment to the EU and IMF that it will reduce social expenditure year on year.
In that context it is unlikely that even the very basics of activation will be provided for by Government never mind the more extensive supports such as affordable childcare which are no less vital to enable the transition to work.
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