Longstanding Jobs Initiative Participants To Be Made Redundant

20 Jun 2003

Participants who have been five years or more on the Job Initiative scheme are the latest victims of budgetary cutbacks. The Irish National Organisation of the Unemployed (INOU) has learned that these cuts are imminent for those in FÁS Dublin North region but that they will be shortly rolled out nationally.

‘These cutbacks will have a devastating effect on both the individuals concerned and their communities as the services provided by them will be either downscaled or removed’, said June Tinsley, Policy Officer INOU. ‘This action is contrary to an earlier Government commitment that no JI participant would return to the dole and is totally unacceptable at a time of rising unemployment. Supports to the unemployed should be enhanced rather than reduced in order to prevent people from drifting into long-term unemployment’.

The INOU calls on the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment not to terminate any contract until the individuals concerned have secured alternative employment, undertaken additional training or education or have completed the High Supports Process. In addition, an alternative programme should be put in place for those who, for a variety of reasons, may be unable to secure employment in the open market.

The budget allocation for the JI scheme has been reduced thereby necessitating a cutback of between 10-15% in the number of participants. FÁS had applied an embargo on recruitment in order to achieve this reduction in numbers. However, in addition the Dublin North region has recently notified JI Co-ordinators that funding for long-standing participants will cease from September 2003.

This decision by Dublin North region will see some project numbers being reduced by 28% rather than 10-15% because of the high number of participants who have been five years or more on the scheme. The participants concerned are to be referred to their local FÁS office or to the LES where they will be supported to progress from JI and possibly take-up the High Support Process. However, in many instances the employment prospects for these participants are poor due to age, ill health and lack of skills and / or education so the likelihood of progression is small.

‘The future is bleak for these individuals who through the scheme have gained valuable work experience, have contributed to their communities and paid taxes. It is totally unacceptable’, added June Tinsley.