Department one-stop shop for jobless

A GOVERNMENT department focusing on job creation will aim to reduce the number of people claiming the dole by putting them on back to work schemes.

The department will be a “one-stop-shop” for the unemployed and is expected to be announced next Tuesday as part of Brian Cowen’s Cabinet reshuffle.

It is expected to incorporate the role of unemployment benefit payments, which is currently done by the Department of Social and Family Affairs, and job creation functions from the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment.