Labour shortages in the booming economy have made little impact on the plight of 64,000 long-term unemployed people and other disadvantaged groups, according to a report.
The annual report of Area Development Management (ADM), an independent organisation set up by the Government and the EU in 1992, says lone parents, Travellers and people with disabilities are among the other groups yet to benefit from the labour shortage.
ADM's task is to tackle the problems of such groups by supporting social and local development. It funds locally-based partnerships which act to counter disadvantage in their areas. ADM is also responsible for development projects in the Border counties.
In 1999, more than 5,000 longterm unemployed workers secured jobs with ADM assistance, according to the annual report.
Training was provided for more than 20,000 adults.
ADM provides funding for community childcare projects under the pilot childcare initiative of the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform. Some 29,000 children participated in projects aimed at reducing early school-leaving, the report said.
In all, ADM found £40 million for more than 1,000 community-based projects last year, £5 million more than in 1998. The funding was provided by partnership companies, local community groups, the peace and reconciliation fund and community-based childcare services.
The report says that one person in five in the Border counties benefited from ADM funding.