asked the Minister for Labour the reason school leavers have to sign on before they can be taken on by employers for grant-aid during the first year of employment, particularly after pre-employment courses; if he will consider creating a situation whereby students who have completed a preemployment course could be taken on by employers and grant-aided from the time they leave the course; if he will consider abolishing the need to be registered for 13 weeks with FÁS and other social welfare agencies; his views on whether this is highly deleterious for students in our system and that it creates periods of unemployment which can be clearly avoided.
Written Answers. - Grant-Aid for School Leavers.
85.
It is my policy to use the resources available to me for employment and training programmes in such a way as to assist to the maximum disadvantaged groups in the labour market. In this connection, it is necessary to ensure that the deadweight and displacement effects of employment programmes such as the employment incentive scheme are minimised. Deadweight takes place when the subsidised recruitment would have taken place without the subsidy. Displacement takes place when the subsidised recruitment displaces non-subsidised jobs elsewhere. It is also necessary in the interests of minimising Exchequer expenditure to target employment subsidies, as far as possible, on those on the live register.
In the above circumstances, I regret that I have not the resources at my disposal to expand the employment schemes on the lines suggested by the Deputy.
I should add that with my colleague, the Minister for Education, I will be shortly announcing an integrated package of employment and training for early school leavers who have no or inadequate formal qualifications.