The Fine Gael leader, Mr John Bruton, has called for a major investment in literacy and numeracy programmes in order to help the long-term unemployed fill vacant job positions.

Speaking at the FAS Opportunities '99 jobs fair yesterday, he said an investment in the region of £40 million was necessary to tackle illiteracy, which was a problem for an estimated 80,000 longterm unemployed people.

Mr Bruton also called for the urgent introduction of a national screening programme to ensure all children have obtained basic literacy and numeracy skills before progressing to secondary school.

"There has to be some point in a curriculum beyond which people cannot pass without these problems being solved. There is no great threat at the age of 11 1/2 or 12 to take a year out or an extra year."

He expressed concern at a recent OECD study which found 17 per cent of Irish people in the 16-25 year age bracket did not have basic literacy skills, adding that without such skills they had little chance of getting a job.

An estimated 50,000 people have visited the three-day jobs fair - which ends today - so far. More than 200 companies are represented as well as, for the first time, 40 colleges and universities.

Mr Greg Craig, director of the event, said it had to turn away up to 20 companies because of lack of space.

"There is a huge variety of people coming through the door, from secondary school students to returned emigrants to women returning to work. Yesterday we had about 60 per cent women and 40 per cent men."

As apprenticeship schemes last year had Leaving Certificate qualifications, compared to about 47 per cent in 1997.

"It's very much an employees market at the moment," he added. "They're more demanding in terms of conditions, rates of pay, ensuring there is a career ladder structure and even trade union recognition." He said employers were now more responsive to employee demands because of the difficulties they are having in filling vacant positions.

Hairdressing chain Peter Mark, has developed a new training programme in order to attract people to a sector which has had a poor reputation for pay in the past.

The four-year apprenticeship course guarantees participants a recognised qualification and a route into further training as well as a job with the company if desired.

FAS opportunities '99 is open today between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. at the RDS Concert Hall, Dublin. Admission in free.