A survey by the Economic and Social Research Institute shows that the number of participants in FAS training schemes, including Community Employment (CE) schemes, who subsequently find work is now up to 60 per cent. The survey results come as the social partners meet this morning to review measures to combat unemployment.

Among the items on the agenda of the meeting is likely to be the Deloitte Touche report for the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, which proposes scaling down CE places by between 6,000 and 8,000. The Irish National Organisation of the Unemployed, which will be represented at today's meeting, has strongly criticised the proposal.

The new ESRI study is based on a follow-on survey of people who participated in FAS schemes between April and July 1997. It looks at how they were faring 12 months later.

The figures show that 61 per cent of participants in training schemes were in jobs after a year. The highest level of job placement was from the Specific Skills Training programme, at 72 per cent. While significantly fewer CE participants found jobs, those who did tended to be better paid.

The figures also provide food for thought on the issue of a national minimum wage, which is also likely to be discussed today. They show that the average starting rate for men finding jobs after FAS training is £4.43p per hour. This is three pence more than the statutory minimum the Government proposes to introduce next year. The starting rate for CE participants averages £4.98p, possibly reflecting the older age profile of this group.

AS course 85 per cent were in full-time jobs and two-thirds were in permanent employment. Of those who had worked before doing a FAS course, over half said they were now in better paid employment.

The INOU has been strongly critical of Government employment policy, particularly for the long term unemployed. Its general secretary, Mr Mike Allen, yesterday accused the Government of "failing to deliver quality training to unemployed people".

He said that "only 1,700 long term unemployed people received training last year. Only 2,500 of the 94,000 people currently long term unemployed will receive training this year".

"Overall, Government figures show fewer unemployed people will receive training in 1999 than in 1997. It is all too easy to hear the crows of success and silence out the reality faced by unemployed people."

However, he welcomed the Government's decision to complete the Local Employment Service network this year with the establishment of the centres in the remaining 15 unemployment black spots.