asked the Minister for Labour if it is a fact that in order to qualify for an appointment as school secretary to the management committee, one must be unemployed for one year previous to the vacancy and must be over 25 years of age; if this is considered fair to young single school leavers well qualified for such an appointment; and the action he proposes to take on the matter so that young school leavers can be considered for such posts.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - School Secretary Posts.
9.
The Government decided in 1982 to phase out the scheme for the employment of clerk-typists in primary and secondary schools. This policy is being implemented through the non-replacement of clerk-typists who resign or retire and by no new posts being created by the Department of Education. Apart from 31 posts which were reinstated in conjunction with the launch of the social employment scheme, no exceptions to the phasing out policy have been allowed and appointments to school secretary posts are now being made solely under the Department of Labour's social employment scheme.
The social employment scheme was developed for the express purpose of enabling the large numbers of productive and energetic persons over 25 years who have been unemployed for more than 12 months to play an active role in social and community development at a reasonable cost to the Exchequer.
At present, my Department, through the National Manpower Service, AnCO, the Youth Employment Agency and CERT, operate a wide variety of training/employment programmes, many of which cater specifically for persons under 25 years. If there is any change in the eligibility criteria under the social employment scheme for school secretaries I shall get in touch with the Deputy.
Does the Minister consider that there is an abundance of common sense in having 25 years as the regulation age in view of the fact that a very responsible applicant for such post as school manager secretary can be unemployed for five years and still not qualify simply because of the age limitation? Even a 24-year old suitable applicant is not eligible. Further, in view of the fact that so many responsible school leavers who are, in the opinion of school committees and management, suitable for such posts are not eligible, being debarred because of these regulations, can the Minister see any way in which he could amend these regulations so that such suitable applicants could be considered for appointment as secretaries to school management boards?
The Deputy has a point of view in the case and I would certainly be prepared to review the matter.
In relation to the stipulated age of 25 years which was brought in in 1977, the population age structure was totally different from today. Would the Minister give an undertaking to review the matter and perhaps now change the limit to 30 years, or the relevant age to take in the majority of the unemployed population?
The White Paper on Manpower Policy which we are bringing forward addresses itself very comprehensively to the age structure of the workforce, which is where Deputy Ahern's question rightly lies. I think it would be more appropriate to have it answered in that context.