Employment blackspot criticises Fás over lack of advice sessions

UNEMPLOYED people in Bandon are, on average, receiving just two minutes per month training and job seeking advice from Fás due to a failure by the state training agency to invest in the region since the downturn.

Bandon has the second highest unemployment figures in West Cork with 1,520 unemployed. In September 2007, just 573 were on the Live Register in the town — meaning unemployment has nearly tripled in the past three years. Despite these high figures, Fás only send a representative to the town on two 2.5-hour sessions per month. The story is similar across most West Cork towns according to Fergal Conlon, LCDP manager with the West Cork Development Partnership.

“The Fás workers that come into Bandon and West Cork are excellent however we need their hours to increase 10 or 20 fold at least. With 1,520 unemployed, we need far more than five hours help per month,” he said.