asked the Minister for Labour if he will state, in relation to special youth employment schemes being operated presently (i) the expenditure involved in each to date; (ii) the total numbers employed in each scheme to date; (iii) the numbers under 25 years employed in these schemes; (iv) the number of permanent jobs created as a result of these schemes; (v) the average duration of jobs under the scheme; and (vi) the plans for the continuation of these or other schemes.
Written Answers. - Youth Employment Schemes.
494.
Appended are the details sought in relation to (1) the Employment Incentive Scheme, operated by my Department; (2) the Work Experience Programme, operated by my Department, and (3) the Community Youth Training Programme, operated by AnCO.
In addition information is supplied in relation to the Ballyfermot Employment Census for which money was provided through my Department.
The Employment Incentive Scheme—The Employment Incentive Scheme was introduced on 28 February 1977 and was intended to encourage employers through payment of premiums to recruit into permanent employment unemployed adults and school leavers who represent an increase over the existing level of employment. The premium, which is £20 per week for an unemployed experienced worker and £14 per week for a young person under 25 years of age entering permanent employment for the first time, is payable for up to 24 weeks. Originally the premium for young persons was £10 and was confined to young persons under 20 years of age.
(i) Expenditure to date: Up to 6 October 1978 a total of £3,518,084 has been expended on the scheme. Of this £2,721,934 was expended in 1978.
(ii) Numbers employed: Up to 6 October 1978 premiums have been paid in respect of a total of 10,212 employees. The figure for 1978 is 7,775.
(iii) Numbers under 25 years: Up to 6 October 1978 premiums have been paid in respect of 3,489 young persons under 25 years of age entering employment for the first time (2,807 in 1978) but in addition a significant proportion of the 6,723 experienced adults in respect of whom premiums were paid were under 25 years of age.
(iv) Number of permanent jobs created, and (v) average duration of jobs: It is assumed that the bulk of the jobs in respect of which the premiums have been paid are permanent.
(vi) Plans for continuation: The question of extending the scheme beyond the end of 1978 is at present under consideration.
The Work Experience Programme—The purpose of the Programme, which was introduced on 3 September 1978 is to give school leavers and other young people an opportunity to learn about the work environment and to get practical experience of a range of different jobs.
(i) Expenditure to date: There has been no expenditure under the programme to date. £600,000 has been allocated for 1978. Refunds of payments made by employers to participants are issued at 4 weekly intervals. The first refunds will issue shortly.
(ii) Numbers employed: 368 young people were participating in the programme in the week ending 13 October 1978.
(iii) Numbers under 25 years: 368. The scheme is confined to young persons under 25.
(iv) Numbers of permanent jobs created: The scheme comenced on 3 September 1978.
(v) Average duration of jobs: A programme for a young person is designed to last for six months.
(vi) Plans for continuation: It is proposed that the Work Experience Programme will be continued.
The Community Youth Training Programme—The aim of this programme, which is run by AnCO and commenced at the end of 1975, is to provide unemployed young persons, particularly school leavers, with opportunities to undergo training and to participate in work projects of benefit to local communities.
(i) Expenditure to date: £1,625,948.
(ii) Numbers employed: To date, a total of 2,518 young persons have been employed in projects under the Programme. There are 818 currently employed.
(iii) Numbers under 25 years: Varies from time to time, but based on an analysis of non-skilled trainees in training at 31 August 1978, 85 per cent were under 25 years of age.
(iv) Numbers of permanent jobs created, and (v) average duration of jobs: Because the programme is concerned with projects work of three to four months duration, permanent employment opportunities have not been created.
(vi) Plans for continuation: Plans for 1979 indicate a level of activity 15 per cent higher than 1978.
Ballyfermot Employment Census—The proposals in relation to this project resulted from discussions between the Employment Action Team and the Ballyfermot Employment Action Group. It is a community based survey relating to unemployment problems in the Ballyfermot area, and it provided for the employment of young people on census-type work.
(i) Expenditure to date: £9,500 out of an allocation of £10,000.
(ii) Numbers employed: The maximum number employed was 33 at any one time.
(iii) Numbers under 25 years: 32.
(iv) Number of permanent jobs created: As the scheme consisted of a survey of current unemployment problems in the Ballyfermot area, the young persons' employment was necessarily of a temporary nature.
(v) Average duration of jobs: Four weeks.
(vi) Plans for continuation: The survey has been completed and the data is currently being processed.