asked the Minister for Labour if his Department have carried out any investigation into the circumstances in which a Teamwork grant was approved for the Ranelagh Village Council, Dublin, without an application for a grant having been agreed by the members or officer board of the council; the outcome of any such investigations; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Dublin Village Council Project.
3.
An application from Ranelagh Village Council for assistance under Teamwork was received on 29 April 1985. The application was signed on behalf of the organisation by the treasurer and a committee member.
The proposal fulfilled the criteria for grant aid under Teamwork and a grant was approved in October 1985, to enable the employment of five workers and a supervisor for 52 weeks.
I understand that, subsequent to this approval, a disagreement arose among constituent members of Ranelagh Village Council regarding the operation of the project. It would not, however, be appropriate for my Department to involve itself in an internal dispute among members of the council.
The project is monitored by the National Manpower Service. The question of the productivity of participants is at present the subject of discussion between the service and the organisers who have been asked to forward a comprehensive report on the project.
Is the Minister of State aware that while his Department received an application in April 1985, as has been reported to me, the Ranelagh Village Council were not aware of such an application until a meeting in October 1985, at the end of which it was announced by the chairperson that a present had been given by the Department of Labour to the council? That was on 14 October and it was the first the council had heard about such an application?
The application was received on 29th April and was discussed in detail with the treasurer of the organisation. The application was held at that time pending a decision about additional funding for the Teamwork scheme. When this became available approval issued on 10 October 1985.
Is the Minister of State satisfied that it is an appropriate use of the scheme for a Labour Party candidate to run an advice centre under a scheme administered by the Department of Labour and to fund the publication of a local news letter? Will he investigate that aspect of it?
I am not aware of the details of what the Deputy is referring to but I can tell him that several articles have been written about this project. It has been visited twice by the National Manpower Service officer and he has asked the organisers to submit a comprehensive list of the details with regard to the project. I trust that when that is submitted and examined all details will be in accordance with the regulations governing Teamwork.
A final supplementary.
Let me ask the Minister of State to refer to my questions. Does he consider it an appropriate use of the scheme for political parties to run their party political advice centres or clinics under that scheme? If that is acceptable to the Department that is fine, but is it acceptable?
That seems to be a separate question. This application was received in the Department and examined initially. It was held pending further funding of the Teamwork scheme and was approved in the normal way on 10 October 1985.
Ceist a 4.
Is the Minister of State saying he is quite happy that the regulations are being upheld in this case or is he saying that an investigation is going on to see if the regulations are being adhered to? Which answer is he giving?
It is fair to say that the NMS officer has visited this project on two occasions and a certain degree of dissatisfaction has been expressed regarding the productivity of the participants in the scheme. It is to do with that aspect of the query that the comprehensive report is requested in the Department.
That clarifies what Deputy De Rossa was trying to get, that a major comprehensive investigation is going on into the working of the Teamwork scheme in this area. When that report is available to the Minister — it might be available already—can we get it? As Opposition spokesman on Labour I would like to see that comprehensive report. The truth is that that manpower officer might be investigating other Teamwork schemes in the same area.
I must ask the Minister again if he will indicate to me whether he considers it appropriate for these schemes to be used for the purpose of setting up political advice centres. I am asking a simple question. Is that the case? Is the publication of, let us say, quasi-local newsletters part of the purpose of the scheme? If not, could he indicate if investigations regarding the misuse of the scheme are in progress in relation to that kind of use or abuse?
I am not aware of those details. Where I come from we do not have quasi-newsletters——
It seems to be a hypothetical question.
Where is the Minister, Deputy Quinn?