asked the Minister for Labour if he will give details of the number of temporary youth employment schemes at present in progress; the number of participants in each scheme; and the total expenditure on such schemes during the current year.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Youth Employment Schemes.
6.
Teamwork is the only temporary youth employment scheme under the aegis of my Department. The scheme provides temporary employment for young persons on local community projects for up to a maximum of 52 weeks. To date in 1986, 1,178 young people have been approved for participation under the programme with estimated expenditure for the year at £5.6 million.
The Deputy who put down the question was referring to the number of schemes covered, including youth employment schemes not necessarily under the Department, but funded by the Department. Has the Minister got that information?
I have that information and I can circulate it to the Deputy if he wishes, or he can have it now.
Will the Minister give it now?
Teamwork is the only temporary employment programme. The social employment scheme caters for those over 25. The work experience scheme, although the placement rate runs at 66 per cent, is not regarded as an employment programme as such. Under the National Manpower Service, the number of participants up to 30 September last in the employment incentive scheme was 5,250 with an expenditure of £3.78 million. The enterprise allowance scheme catered for 1,105 participants in the youth element of it with an expenditure of £1.535 million up to 30 September last. Under the Youth Employment Agency the community enterprise programme has had 264 participants involving an expenditure of £1.255 million up to 30 September last. Under the scientist and technologist employment programme, expenditure to date has been £123,000. Under the scheme for the marketplace there have been 57 participants involving an expenditure of £182,000. Under the national co-op farm relief services, there were 22 participants involving an expenditure of £122,000. Under the European orientation programme there were 29 participants involving an expenditure of £77,000. Under the financial graduates employment programme there were six participants with an expenditure of £12,000.
Is it the view of the Minister's Department that the percentage rate of people who obtain employment as a result of these schemes, whether they are temporary employment or training schemes, is very poor? The cost of some of the schemes is enormous. Will the Minister agree that there is an argument for examining the relevancy of some of these proposals and has such an examination been undertaken in the Department?
A reply to a later question gives details of the number of people who have been placed in employment or who contained working under their sponsors.
Has there been a review in the Department to streamline the number of schemes? Some of the schemes which are not called temporary are, in effect, temporary schemes.
The schemes are being constantly monitored with regard to their effectiveness and in terms of expenditure to ensure that the best results are achieved.
I will allow Deputy Ahern one more question and I will allow Deputy Leonard and Deputy Lyons a short question each.
The European Social Fund have informed the Government in the last few years that there are smaller resources available. Is it the position that a review is taking place to eliminate schemes which were previously funded by the European Social Fund? Will we now get a huge reduction in the number of schemes because of a lack of resources?
The schemes are reviewed on a regular basis to monitor expenditure and their effectiveness.
But——
I cannot allow that.
The reply given by the Minister was vague and did not fulfil Deputy Seán Byrne's wish, which was to try to get information on these schemes. If they are being continually reviewed for efficiency and effectiveness, it seems strange that until now none of the schemes was scrapped.
That is argument.
It appears that now, because there is a lack of resources from the European Social Fund, these schemes are being reviewed with a view to abolishing them.
The question relates to the number of temporary youth employment schemes at present in progress. I have given that information. The Deputy sought further information in relation to programmes which would be regarded as providing permanent employment.
Will the Minister agree that this is a good opportunity to review all these schemes following various reports which have examined the potential for labour in these areas?
I fully agree with Deputy Leonard and that will be done.
In relation to the enterprise allowance scheme and permanent employment, will the Minister agree that this scheme is now unacceptable and that sufficient funds should be made available to continue this work of creating permanent employment? Will the Minister agree that it is totally unacceptable that the enterprise allowance scheme has ground to a halt?
The enterprise allowance scheme is aimed at providing permanent employment and up to 30 September this year there has been expenditure of £1.535 million in the youth element of that to cater for 1,105 participants.
Question No. 7.
A Cheann Comhairle——
I have been generous on this.
The Minister did not answer the question. Will he ensure that the enterprise allowance scheme——
I am not staying any longer with this question.
It is very important.