asked the Minister for Labour if his attention has been drawn to the fact that in parts of County Sligo there is a difficulty in finding the full quota of qualified and suitable workers for social employment schemes; if, in view of this, he will make provision whereby, in these circumstances, people who had previously worked on the scheme and were otherwise eligible would be offered work again for a further year or six months; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Social Employment Scheme.
188.
While isolated difficulties may occur in filling social employment scheme places, the overall position in County Sligo and the north west region is that there is a sufficiently large group to meet in full the quota of participants assigned to the region.
Allowing persons who have previously been employed on SES to participate for a further term would not be justified given the large number of eligible persons available to participate for the first time.
189.
asked the Minister for Labour arising out of Parliamentary Question No. 566 of Tuesday, 28 April 1987, regarding statistics on the social employment scheme, the date computerisation commenced; the date it will be completed; and the date on which the statistics will be published.
Computerisation of the records of the social employment scheme was initiated in March 1986. The majority of project records are now computerised. As regards statistics (including regional and county statistics), my Department should be in a position to give such details of current projects next autumn.
190.
asked the Minister for Labour if he will issue approval under the social employment scheme to Kilkenny County Council for works (details supplied) in County Kilkenny where an application has been made.
It is understood that Kilkenny County Council intend to carry out the work in question under an existing social employment scheme project for which a 52 week extension was approved in September 1986.
However, in order to remain within budget provided for the social employment scheme regional participation quotas have been allocated. Consequently, new projects-extensions and participants may only commence when sufficient numbers of current participants complete their term of employment under the scheme.
The south east region of the National Manpower Service has a substantial list of projects awaiting clearance to commence and it may be some time before formal approval can be given for the extended projects to recommence.