asked the Minister for Labour the reason young people have to be out of the educational system for six months before they are eligible for an AnCO course; the circumstances in which this rule can be waived; the number of cases in which the rule was waived in each year from 198487 inclusive; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers - Eligibility for AnCO Courses.
174.
The objectives of the rule are:—
(1) To ensure that young people particularly below leaving certificate level should not be enticed out of the educational system and provided with places which could be taken up by people who are genuinely unemployed and seeking training.
(2) To allow leavers reasonable opportunity to obtain employment.
(3) To assist the longer-term unemployed.
In early 1987 the following modifications were made to the rule in certain cases for a year's trial period to be reviewed at the end of the year.
(1) Applicants in the Social Guarantee category i.e. early unqualified school leavers need be only four months out of full-time education. Leavers who are less than four months out of school will be considered only if sufficient longer-term unemployed are not available. In no case should those less than six months out of school exceed 25 per cent of the total participants on any course.
(2) For other programmes, leavers who are less than six months out of school will be considered only if sufficient longer-term unemployed are not available. In no case should those less than six months out of school exceed 15 per cent of the total participants on any course.
(3) Where a third level qualification is an essential requirement for a particular course the six months rule need not apply but preference will be given to leavers who are at least six months out of education.
(4) Persons entering apprenticeships which traditionally caters for school leavers.
Finally from records available it is not possible to give the number of cases where the rule was waived.