asked the Minister for Labour the efforts which have been made to seek EC funding for special measures to promote employment and with what results; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna-Questions. Oral Answers. - Employment Promotion Funding.
13.
Since taking up office the Minister for Labour, has continuously endeavoured to obtain the support of his fellow EC Social Affairs Ministers for measures at European level to promote employment. There is a widespread acceptance among the Ministers of the need for more Community action in the employment field. Unfortunately, the current budgetary crisis in the Community has militated against the efforts to secure additional Community funding and, indeed, has severely curtailed the amount of money available for employment and training measures as for other areas. Nevertheless, it is his intention to continue to press for new Community initiatives and more Community funding for job creation measures, particularly for less-developed Community regions.
The amount of assistance which Ireland, through the agency of the Department, obtains from the European Social Fund for vocational training and employment-related programmes continues at a high level. We have sought and obtained an EC commitment of funding towards the cost of implementing the special new schemes introduced by the Department, namely, the social employment scheme, which is aimed specifically at the long term unemployed, and the enterprise allowance scheme, which assists unemployed persons to set up in self-employment. The total amount of European Social Fund assistance expected to be approved for Ireland in 1986 is just over £169 million of which £4.4 million is for the social employment scheme and £3.9 million for the enterprise allowance scheme.
The Minister mentioned a figure of £169 million. Is this in relation to employment or is it the total expenditure?
The total amount of the European Social Fund assistance is £169 million, of which £4.4 million is for the SES and £3.9 million for the enterprise allowance scheme.
Some time ago it was thought that a special package was being discussed in the Department for employment creation in the Dublin area. Is there such a proposal? Has it been forwarded to the EC and, if so, what has been the reply?
That is a separate question. I will find out the position with regard to that proposal and let the Deputy know.
Will the Minister state if the EC have set down criteria or targets for the establishment of the social employment scheme and what monitoring, if any, is done by them?
All schemes submitted to the EC that receive approval are subject to EC conditions and moneys paid from EC funds are subject to European audit. That proceeds all the time. The target was initially set by the Government of 10,000 participants in the scheme and that is expected to be reached in approximately eight weeks.
My memory is that on the launching of the scheme the target was 10,000 per year. What has been the progress with regard to the target? Has the figure mentioned by the Minister been achieved over a 12-month period or over a shorter or longer period?
The statistics will be available in a later question. There were some initial teething difficulties with regard to participation in the scheme both from the union point of view and from the point of view of the monitoring committee and there were other related matters. However, it is expected there will be 10,000 participants in the scheme in about eight to ten weeks.