asked the Minister for Labour if he will give a progress report on the operation of the social guarantee scheme and the Teamwork scheme; and if he will outline his response to this week's Youth Employment Agency report on long term unemployment.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Social Guarantee and Teamwork Schemes.
2.
The Youth Employment Agency have responsibility for the implementation of the social guarantee. The NMS, AnCO, CERT, ACOT and the Department of Education are co-operating with the agency in the delivery of the guarantee and local liaison units representatives of these bodies are operating out of the local offices of the NMS.
The agency decided to concentrate initially on the 1984-85 school leaver cohort. By the end of January 1986 some 650 young people had availed themselves of the opportunities available under the social guarantee and it is hoped to accommodate in the near future most of the remainder of those who have indicated an interest in participating. Arrangements are now in train to identify and accommodate those from the 1985-86 cohort of school leavers who will be eligible for consideration under the social guarantee.
There are 124 Teamwork projects in operation at present giving employment to 946 young persons and 118 supervisors. This scheme is designed to provide employment opportunities for young people on projects of benefit to their local communities. The demands for assistance under the scheme are such at present that it has been decided to increase the 1986 allocation from £5 million to £7 million.
The findings of the Youth Employment Agency survey confirm that those with low levels of education and training and those from deprived backgrounds are most likely to experience long term unemployment. The findings underline the appropriateness of existing policy decisions such as the implementation of the social guarantee which is the responsibility of the Youth Employment Agency, the expansion of youth levy funded programmes participation from 22,500 in 1981 to nearly 50,000 at the end of 1985 and developments in the educational area such as the introduction of the vocational training and preparation programme which will play an important role in the implementation of the social guarantee.
There have been serious funding shortfalls with regard to the social guarantee scheme and the Teamwork scheme. How much money has been expended on the social guarantee scheme? The Minister said 650 people were employed by the end of January 1986. How many people are in the category who should be employed in view of the fact that last week's report stated that there were up to 20,000 young people long term unemployed?
I accept that the Government recognise the validity of the Teamwork scheme and its importance. That is the principal reason for the increase to £7 million for this year.
I want to ask first about the social guarantee scheme.
With regard to the numbers, first of all, under the social guarantee scheme the number of early school leavers notified by schools in October 1985 was 8,000. Of that number the total number identified as eligible for participation within the category of the scheme was 6,400 or 80 per cent. The total number who replied and were called for interview was 2,600.
Would the Minister accept that, in view of the fact that the schools notified that 8,000 young people were eligible for this scheme and only 650 benefited, there is a very serious shortfall? According to the report of the YEA last week 20,000 have been unemployed for two years or more. This scheme has been a massive failure in attempting to tackle the problem. What scheme has he got to get those 20,000 young people off the unemployment register?
As the Deputy is well aware, there are a variety of schemes in operation.
They are not benefiting from them.
The YEA's proposals with regard to the social employment scheme were approved in February 1985. They included as a priority school leavers at or before intermediate or group certificate level and other school leavers without qualifications and unemployed. The scheme has only been in operation for a short time. The Deputy can rest assured that it is being monitored very carefully. The fact that 2,600 responded to the call for interview speaks for itself.
While the Teamwork scheme has been successful and has elicited a good response, my understanding is that the scheme has been almost completely brought to a halt because there is no money available to fund applications before the Department. The information given is that 124 schemes are in operation but how many others have applied unsuccessfully for assistance? Are there any proposals to increase funding in view of the popularity of the scheme?
I do not have the actual number of new applications since they are coming into the Department on a continuous basis. The extra allocation of £2 million this year will be allocated according to the conditions of the scheme and on individual merit. A very substantial amount of money could be allocated to Teamwork schemes in general but the situation is being closely monitored and I expect that the most meritorious schemes will be enabled to continue.
3.
asked the Minister for Labour the number of people employed under the social employment scheme in County Kildare; and the amount of money which is allowed for the purchase of materials for each project.
Statistics on the social employment scheme are currently compiled on the basis of National Manpower Service regions. Details will be available on a county by county basis, as soon as the records of the scheme are fully computerised.
Kildare forms part of the east region of the NMS which also comprises Counties Meath, Wicklow and Dublin. There are 1,825 persons employed on 658 projects in the region at present.
The materials grant for projects under the social employment scheme is dependent on whether the sponsors of the project are in the public or the voluntary sector. In the case of public body sponsors, a total of 53 per cent of the wages grant for the project may be available towards supervision and materials. For voluntary body sponsors the materials grant amounts to a maximum of 15 per cent of the wages grant and a further 13 per cent is available towards supervision.
Did I hear the Minister say that in the case of public bodies 53 per cent of the total is available for materials?
That is correct. In the case of public body sponsors, a total of 53 per cent of the wages grant for the project may be available towards supervision and materials.
Are there cases where projects cannot go ahead because of lack of funds for materials?
In my experience as a public representative I have come across cases where the planning of the work might have been such that work had to come to a stop because of expenditure on materials at too early a date. In some individual cases that might have happened.
Is there any way of getting further funds for materials?
There is the option to apply for an extension to the scheme.
An extension to the time?
An extension to the scheme which, if approved, would mean the allocation of further time and further finance.
Would that have to be an exceptional case? Is it possible that on-going schemes could be forced to discontinue due to lack of funding for materials?
I assume that the approval given for a public body sponsor would have to take into account the planning of the scheme. If the scheme were to come to a halt, the option would be to apply for an extension which would involve further payments for materials and wages.
Surely the principle of the scheme is to give employment? We are drifting into the position where people might try to use any device under the scheme to get finance for materials and not for employment, which is the purpose of the scheme.
The scheme has been a phenomenal success in that over 10,000 people are now employed. The conditions are laid down. A total of 53 per cent is available for public bodies and 15 per cent for voluntary bodies.