People in rural areas are not being catered for in the Government's employment action plan, it has been claimed.
The Irish National Organisation of the Unemployed says the plan, which came into effect last year, does little to address regional imbalance. Under EU rules, each member-state is required to produce annually a national employment action plan.
The current plan came into effect last March, and a new one will be submitted to the EU Commission for review in October.
In an analysis just published, the INOU criticises the "lack of inclusiveness" of the existing plan.
Its job creation strategies, the organisation claims, are all geared towards the achievement of high-tech, knowledge-based jobs, predominantly in the science, engineering and technology sectors.
"Such jobs require a highly-educated staff. This lack of inclusiveness of those individuals who will never attain these jobs is a serious concern," it says.
Even the recent report of the Enterprise Strategy Group failed to consider those currently distanced from the labour market, the INOU claims.
"Job creation strategies must stimulate and encourage employment opportunities in all sectors and at all levels to accommodate the diverse labour supply."
The current plan, it says, is "very urban-oriented" and offers little for unemployed people based in rural areas.
In general, the INOU points out that while Ireland has one of the lowest unemployment rates in the EU, the number of long-term unemployed people has been increasing since 2002 and currently stands at 30,500.
Youth unemployment, which refers to those aged under 25, also remains a concern across the EU. While Ireland's rate of 8.2 per cent is below the EU average, it is nearly double the overall unemployment rate.
For the new action plan to be more effective, it needs to cater more for specific groups, such as people with disabilities, rural unemployed people and Travellers, the INOU asserts.
It also queries the re-orientation of programmes such as the community employment scheme to make them more geared towards progression into jobs and training.
"There is no mention of a replacement programme for those whose progression chances are weak, yet who have personally benefited greatly from participation on such schemes whilst simultaneously providing valuable social services."
