asked the Minister for Labour if the SFADCo project, for which European Social Fund assistance of £192,000 was approved, to determine the feasibility of integrating the establishment of small businesses with the training of socially deprived unskilled young people has (a) yet been completed (b) yet been evaluated and (c) indicated any useful results for national policy.
Written Answers. - County Limerick Community Development Co-operative.
85.
The pilot project in question was completed on 30 November, 1986 and an evaluation has been carried out by the promoters.
From information furnished to my Department by SFADCo in connection with its application for assistance from the European Social Fund, I understand that the objective of the scheme was to establish in Southill, Limerick a Community Development Co-operative containing five manufacturing projects, five service projects and one horticultural project, including the provision of appropriate training for the participants. The promoters found that the severe social and other problems which existed in Southill were greater than anticipated. Nevertheless, at the end of the period of the pilot scheme, eight enterprises, employing 23 people, were established.
I understand that the sponsors of the scheme, SFADCo, consider that many valuable lessons were learned which could be useful for the formulation of national policy in the development of small businesses or co-operatives in disadvantaged areas. More detailed information on this aspect should be available from SFADCo.