asked the Minister for Labour if he will furnish details of the submissions made by his Department to the EEC Commission on the review of expenditure under the social fund.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Social Fund Expenditure.
19.
Mr. J. Fitzpatrick
The main submission made to the Commission in regard to the review of the social fund has been for the introduction of differential rates of assistance in respect of aid for regions with long term structural employment problems.
I have also been advocating to the Commission the establishment of a Community Employment Fund, separate from both the regional and social funds, to aid schemes aimed directly at creating employment.
In its provisions for the review of the fund published in March, the Commission has responded to these proposals. Differential rates of assistance at 65 per cent are requested in respect of certain regions and the possibility of the fund aiding job creation is also proposed.
The Commission's proposals are now being discussed within the framework of the council and at the next Council of Social Affairs Ministers at which the social fund review will be one of the main items on the agenda, I will be urging their further strengthening and extension. It is in these discussions in the council that the real negotiations on the future of the fund will take place.
Can the Minister say, as a result of these submissions, what estimate he or his Department can put on the number of jobs that can be created under the reviewed social fund in the coming year?
It is much too early to say that. We are very early in the process of real negotiation of new provisions of the social fund.
Does the Minister have a projected figure?
As I explained, we are at the start of the real negotiations of the revision of the fund's terms. It would, obviously be a meaningless exercise to start presenting forecasts on provisions of a fund the features of which we still do not know.
Does it not appear that there is a lack of planning somewhere?
Where? On the part of the Commission?
On the part of the Minister and his Department.