asked the Minister for Labour the current criteria for participation in respect of (a) the social employment scheme and (b) the Teamwork scheme; the changes, if any, which have taken place in each case, since 10 March 1987, the guidelines which have been issued to placement officers of the National Manpower Service for implementing the criteria subsequent to 10 March 1987; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Manpower Schemes.
268.
The basic criteria for participation in respect of the social employment scheme and the Teamwork scheme are as follows:—
(a) Social Employment Scheme
Sponsors should be non-profit orientated and community based and can be either public sector bodies or voluntary organisations.
Participants must be over 25 years and in receipt of unemployment assistance
or
over 25 years of age, registered as unemployed for over 12 months and in receipt of unemployment benefit.
(b) Teamwork Scheme
Only voluntary non-profit making, community based groups, independent of statutory bodies, which have primarily social or cultural objectives, may act as a sponsor.
Any young person over 17 and under 25 years of age at the time of recruitment, who has left the education system and has been unemployed for more than six months immediately prior to obtaining employment can join Teamwork.
All young workers must have been registered with the National Manpower Service for at least four weeks prior to being referred by the National Manpower Service to the sponsor for interview.
Supervisors, who may be over 25 and need not necessarily be unemployed for six months, should, however, be registered with the National Manpower Service for at least four weeks before the project commences.
No changes have been introduced in the eligibility criteria since 10 March 1987. With effect from 1 April 1987, the allowance payable to new SES participants has been reduced from £70 to £60 per week. The wages grant under the Teamwork scheme has also been reduced from £70 to £60 from 1 April 1987 for new participants.
In April 1987 guidelines issued to placement officers regarding the Job-search programme. The guidelines state, among other things, that people who do not accept the reasonable offer of a place on a manpower scheme (including places on the social employment and the Teamwork schemes) should be notified to the Department of Social Welfare.