asked the Taoiseach if he will outline the action that both he and the Government propose to take on the report on worksharing submitted to him by the Federated Union of Employers; and how the action taken as a result of this report will contribute to easing the unemployment situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Report on Worksharing.
1.
I assume the Deputy is referring to a report on "Employment and Worksharing" submitted to me by the Federated Union of Employers in June 1984. The report was one of a number of submissions made to the Government at the time on how the employment situation might be improved that were considered in the context of the preparation of the national plan: Building on Reality 1985-1987. The Deputy will be aware of the wide range of measures contained in the plan to improve the employment situation over the period to 1987.
While it is clear that it can represent only a limited element in the resolution of the unemployment problem, the Government, under the national plan, are committed to the promotion of worksharing and to the introduction of measures and guidelines which will enhance the prospect of securing a more widespread distribution of employment opportunities for particular groups among the unemployed.
Can the Taoiseach tell us the reason the report submitted to this Government in June 1984 has not been published or made available? Can he outline any practical suggestions the Government have for operating a worksharing programme? We are all committed to worksharing. It is easy to say we are committed but we must see its practical application.
First of all, the reason for not publishing the document is that it was a strictly private and confidential submission from the Federated Union of Employers. With regard to action, I have mentioned various actions the Government have taken, one being the Government social employment scheme, which is designed to achieve a participation level of 10,000 within a year and which will provide part time employment for that number of people. Even though it is not yet fully operational some 100 projects will be started within the next few weeks and a total of 350 projects with employment potential of 2,500 have been received to date.
As mentioned in the plan, the Government have also been pursuing the question of worksharing in the Civil Service itself. Between jobsharing and career breaks there are already almost 700 cases in the Civil Service where, as a result of one or the other, we have been able to create additional employment and an additional almost 200 new staff will be recruited on a jobsharing basis in 1985. Therefore, within the public service itself the Government are taking these actions. In the private sector, of course, developments are a matter for consideration within our voluntary collective bargaining system on a case by case basis at local level.
We could not accept that the social employment scheme could be regarded as jobsharing. Would the Taoiseach give the reasons he has not put proposals to all sectors of the Civil Service, particularly the health services where there are many young married nurses with children anxious to be involved in job sharing? Can the Taoiseach give us any indication of any proposals he might put forward to the various sectors of the public service to ensure that more people are given permanent employment for at least four days per week within the public service in general?
I am not sure where the four days come from; it does not quite fit into the concept of worksharing. In fact schemes have also been introduced in the health and local authority areas and in An Post and Bord Telecom in respect of career breaks. We would certainly encourage jobsharing as in the Civil Service in the other sections of the public service also.