865 unemployed found work through New Deal

THE doomed New Deal 'back to work' scheme has succeeded in finding work for 865 Londonderry folk since the new and improved Steps to Work programme was rolled out by the Department of Employment and Learning (DEL) elsewhere in Northern Ireland.

Steps to Work is aimed at reducing joblessness and has been rolled out everywhere apart from in unemployment blackspot Londonderry where New Deal continues to operate until a contract for its more flexible replacement is awarded.

DEL describes Steps to Work as a fresh approach to the problem, offering different choices around work related activities to help people find employment, but not yet in Londonderry.

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Since it was introduced in September 2008 to phase out New Deal, the Steps to Work programme has found work for more than 5,100 people in Northern Ireland.

4,371 of these found unsubsidised work; 636 found work with subsidised employers and a further 147 found work through "Step Ahead" in the voluntary and community sector.

In Londonderry just 15 people have access the improved programme were hundreds continue to benefit from the New Deal.

But a spokesperson for DEL advised the Sentinel: "The total number of participants who have found work through New Deal in Derry during the period in question is 865.

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"This figure is comprised of 789 who have found unsubsidised work, 28 in subsidised employment and 48 in fixed term employment."

DEL has hailed Steps to Work as a more flexible alternative to the controversial New Deal programme which was criticised last year for providing a "poor return for taxpayers' money."

The Stormont Public Accounts Committee slammed the mandatory element of the New Deal programme for over 25s when it emerged fewer than 20 per cent of participants had secured employment on leaving the programme, despite 69 million spent on implementation from 1998 to 2007.

A DEL spokesperson said it hoped the new scheme would be available in Londonderry within the first six months of 2011.

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The spokesperson said: "Steps to Work replaced New Deal as the Department's main adult return-to-work programme from September 2008.

"It has been rolled-out across Northern Ireland with the exception of the Foyle contract area. The existing New Deal contracts in the Foyle area have been extended until 31 March 2011.

"Arrangements have been put in place to ensure, as far as possible, provision replicates what is available in Steps to Work. The Department hopes to be in a position to have the Steps to Work provision available in the Foyle Area during the first six months of 2011."

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