Jobless groups welcome dole reforms

Groups representing the jobless are welcoming calls from the Social Affairs Minister for urgent reforms to help them get off the dole.

Seamus Brennan wants to track the progress of 30,000 welfare recipients with a view to setting up a national profile of those most at risk of long-term unemployment.

Eric Conroy of the National Organisation for the Unemployed hopes the survey data will help design better support programmes.

"Education seems to be a major issue," he said. "If you tackle education, education disadvantage, and disadvantage in general, people's eyes will be open in terms of jobs that they would ultimately aspire to."