To ask the Minister for Employment and Learning (i) to detail the number of jobs fairs in (a) Limavady; and (b) Coleraine in each of the last three years; (ii) how he has communicated with employers in these areas to assess demand for a jobs fair; and (iii) whether he plans to hold jobs fairs in these areas.

Over the last three years, my Department has hosted the following job fair events locally. There have been three large scale job fair events in the Millennium Forum, Derry (2013, 2014 and 2015). All unemployed clients from both Coleraine and Limavady were invited to attend and issued with promotional flyers highlighting these events. I am aware that a number of clients from both areas attended these events.

There were two job fair events in the Joey Dunlop Centre, Ballymoney (2014 and 2015) with a number of clients from the Coleraine area attending these events.

Officials from my Department also worked with North West Regional College (NWRC) to deliver an Employment and Learning showcase event in Limavady in February 2015 which focused on STEM related subjects and which targeted local year 10 to year 14 students.

When planning to host a Job Fair or event in any location my officials carefully consider the number of job opportunities employers have available in the area in order to establish whether there is sufficient interest from local companies to participate. This ensures that there are sufficient job opportunities on offer to assist the unemployed to find work and also provides value for money for the Department.

Should the opportunity arise during 2016, and there is sufficient demand from employers in the Coleraine and Limavady area, my officials would be happy to scope out the potential for a Departmental event in this area.