I propose taking Questions Nos. 4, 23 and 40 together. The educational opportunities scheme was launched on a pilot basis at two centres at Tallaght and Limerick. The pilot scheme provided an opportunity to long-term unemployed persons aged 25 years or over to further their education while still receiving a weekly allowance equivalent to their unemployment payment. In 1988 I reduced the qualifying age to 23 years. The courses, which covered second level education only, included both intermediate and leaving certificate subjects and ran for the normal academic year. The vocational education committees in the two pilot areas arranged the classes under the scheme.
A professional evaluation of the pilot scheme during its first cycle found it to be very worth while. Participants found that it gave a boost to their morale and improved their job prospects.
On 27 September 1989 the Government introduced the vocational training opportunities scheme to replace the educational opportunities scheme. This new scheme which will also be provided by the vocational education committees will be available in 12 centres around the country including Tallaght and Limerick. The scheme provides long-term unemployed persons over the age of 21 with the opportunity to do a full time education and training course leading to a leaving or other certificate such as City and Guilds. About 240 places in all are available in the 12 centres. It is intended to expand the network of centres progressively throughout the country. The 12 centres are, Cork, Tralee, Galway, Bray, Clondalkin, Tallaght, Waterford, Sligo, Athlone, Dún Laoghaire, Finglas and Limerick. Participants will receive a weekly allowance from the vocational education committees equivalent to their unemployment payments. Travel and lunch allowances may also be payable. Recruitment for the new scheme which is being organised by the adult education organisers of the VECs and the managers of my Department's local offices in the chosen centres is already well under way. A number of classes have already started.
In relation to facilities for the unemployed to participate in other educational activities, I took power in the Social Welfare Act, 1989 to deem persons to be available for work or to exempt them from the requirement to be available for work in certain circumstances, thereby safeguarding their entitlements to unemployment payments. Regulations giving effect to those provisions are at an advanced stage of preparation and I hope to be in a position to make an announcement shortly. It is my intention to allow long-term unemployed persons participate in second level education courses and also in projects under community enterprise programmes. The position in relation to third level education courses is also being examined.
As regards the first of the questions from Deputy O'Keeffe, the person concerned claimed and was paid an unemployment payment from 12 April 1988 to September 1989. During this period he was given approval to study for the leaving certificate which he obtained. In September 1989 he informed the local office that he had been accepted for and intended to commence a full time two year computer studies course at the Regional Technical College in Cork. His case was referred for determination to a deciding officer who disallowed his claim on the grounds that he was not available for work due to his participation in the full time computer course at the regional college. He was advised of his right to appeal the decision and was given an appeal form. To date he has not lodged an appeal against the disallowance.
It is understood that the person in question is now in receipt of supplementary welfare allowance in respect of his wife and family, plus a mortgage subsidy. When the regulations I have referred to have been made — as I have said, I expect these to be ready shortly — I will arrange to have his claim reviewed.
Both individuals referred to by Deputy O'Keeffe in his second question were in receipt of unemployment assistance at the employment office, Kinsale. Both commenced a secretarial course in the local VEC technical college in September 1989. Unfortunately, neither of the two sought advance approval from the Department as regards their continuing entitlement to unemployment assistance. When the situation came to light, the claims of both persons were suspended pending examination of whether they satisfied the availability condition. If it is established that the course is part time and that they will be able to satisfy the availability condition while pursuing the course, their claims will be allowed and payment restored. If not, their claims will be examined within the context of the new regulations.