Vol. 376 No. 10
asked the Minister for Labour if the Youth Employment Agency recommend that Teamwork projects should be well structured and well supervised as unstructured and unsupervised projects fail to meet the needs of the young long term unemployed; if he has any plans to implement this recommendation; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
94.
asked the Minister for Labour his views on whether unsupervised, unstructured Teamwork projects are of benefit in meeting the needs of the young long term unemployed who are in many cases unqualified, unskilled and from disadvantaged backgrounds; if he has any plans to develop well-structured and well-supervised Teamwork projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 83 and 94 together.
I am not aware of any unsupervised, unstructured Teamwork projects. If the Deputy has a particular case in mind I will have it investigated.
Applications for Teamwork projects are carefully examined so as to ensure that they are well supervised and structured. Ongoing monitoring of approved projects also ensures this.
84.
asked the Minister for Labour the reasons Teamwork projects of four or less in general, are not eligible to receive grant-aided supervision; the way in which such projects should be supervised; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
89.
asked the Minister for Labour his views on whether one supervisor on the Teamwork scheme can successfully supervise between five and ten young people; if he has any plans to increase supervision on Teamwork; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
93.
asked the Minister for Labour the circumstances under which grant-aid can be provided for supervision for Teamwork projects employing four or fewer; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 84, 89 and 93 together. Under current arrangements where a Teamwork project employs fewer than five people the sponsoring organisation is obliged to satisfy the National Manpower Service (NMS) that it can provide adequate supervision. On projects employing from five to ten young workers a grant towards the employment of one supervisor may be allowed and on projects employing over ten young people a grant towards the employment of two supervisors may be allowed. Before a project is approved the National Manpower Service has to be satisfied that the project will be properly supervised. In addition all projects are subject to on-going monitoring by the National Manpower Service.
Any changes in the details of this scheme will be a matter for consideration in the first instance, by FÁS.
85.
asked the Minister for Labour the year in which the temsorin porary employment scheme Teamwork was first introduced; the year in which full time supervision was introduced on Teamwork; the reasons therefor; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Teamwork was first introduced in January 1985 and officially launched in March 1985. It replaced the grant scheme for youth employment which had operated since 1977. The payment of a grant towards the employment of supervisors was a feature of the grant scheme for youth employment and continued to operate from the commencement date of Teamwork.
86.
asked the Minister for Labour the reason wages to supervisors on Teamwork were not revised in line with wages of young participants this year; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Under the present conditions of Teamwork a grant of £105 a week is provided to project sponsors towards the employment costs of each approved supervisor. I have no plans at the moment to reduce these grants. The future development of Teamwork and other labour market measures will no doubt be one of the issues to be considered by FÁS.
87.
asked the Minister for Labour if grant aid under Teamwork is conditional on his Department being satisfied that a project can be completed successfully within the terms of the grant awarded; the criteria which are used to satisfy his Department on this point; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The general aim of the Teamwork scheme is to provide young people with worthwhile temporary employment on projects which benefit the community. Only voluntary non-profit making community based groups which have primarily social or cultural objectives may act as sponsors. All projects must meet all the requirements of the scheme including the likelihood of its successful completion. All applications for assistance under Teamwork are subject to careful examination by officers of the National Manpower Service, to ensure compliance with the scheme's conditions.
