asked the Minister for Labour if he will give details of the number of temporary youth employment or training schemes at present in progress.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Youth Employment and Training.
14.
There are two temporary employment schemes available to young people — the Teamwork scheme operated by the National Manpower Service and the Environmental Works (Special Projects) Scheme operated by the Department of the Environment. There are 124 Teamwork projects in operation at present providing employment to a total of 946 young workers and 118 supervisors. Sixty-two young people are currently engaged on the environmental works scheme. This scheme is being phased out.
In addition, under the work experience programme young people are placed with employers for up to 26 weeks to gain experience of the world of work and some knowledge of the skills necessary to help them secure employment. There were 2,000 young people participating in this programme at the end of May 1986.
The following is a breakdown of the training programmes available to young persons which are funded wholly or partly from the proceeds of the youth employment levy:
AnCO
—Specific employable skills courses
—apprenticeship training
—enterprise training
—community workshops
—travellers workshops.
There are 12,321 young people in training on these AnCO courses at present.
CERT provide training for young people in two areas:
—Training for the unemployed
—School based training.
At the end of May 1986 there were 375 young people attending CERT training courses for the unemployed and 1,072 young people in receipt of school based training.
The ACOT Certificate in Farming Programme is partly funded from the youth employment levy. At the end of March 1986 there were 3,247 young farmers on this programme.
In view of the fact that £300 million has been contributed by the taxpayer in the 1 per cent youth employment levy since the imposition of the levy, much more of this money should be spent on the creation of sustainable economic jobs. Let me put it to the Minister of State that, while the temporary schemes within their narrow confines are desirable, what has been happening in his Department is that all of the expenditure is now being used on temporary employment schemes and much of the money is being used on training schemes which heretofore were financed from the central Exchequer?
I have given the details which the Deputy requested in regard to the number of temporary youth employment and training schemes. We would like to see all jobs sustainable and economically viable but the value of these temporary courses and training programmes speaks for itself in terms of permanent employment which young people often get afterwards.
Recently the Department said that 45,000 young people are on training or temporary work schemes but the Minister's figures indicate that fewer people are availing of these courses. Does the Minister agree that there are far too many people on temporary employment or training schemes and that there is too little emphasis by his Department on the funding of sustainable jobs? Can the Minister give any indication that there will be a change in policy in regard to waste of money in this regard?
I do not consider that the money is wasted on training schemes. The figures to which I referred relate to the Teamwork scheme and the environmental works special project scheme about which the Deputy inquired. A change of policy is a matter for the Government and, naturally, constant reviews are carried out by the Department concerned.
Looking at these schemes with hindsight, it was a great pity that a set percentage — say 20 per cent — was not used towards creating sustainable or permanent jobs.