asked the Minister for Labour the number employed through local community enterprise projects; and the average rates of pay for the jobs.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Local Community Enterprise Projects.
13.
The community enterprise programme operated by FÁS offers financial assistance to community and co-operative groups to set up businesses. The assistance includes the provision of grant aid for (1) feasibility studies, (2) the employment of enterprise workers, professional managerial assistance and (3) wage subsidies. The number being assisted under the various grant headings at (2) and (3) at the end of March 1989 was 258. In addition, some 500 people are assisted every year through various support mechanisms including advice and back-up support services. Wage rates are a matter for negotiation between workers and employers and FÁS have no function in the matter.
I take it from the Minister's reply that he is talking of in excess of 700 jobs for the first quarter of this year. Bearing in mind that the target was 10,000 jobs per year in local community projects, would he now agree that this has been a dismal failure and that he has no chance whatsoever of achieving the target which he spelled out at the European Conference on Strategies for Local Economic Development, in Trinity College on 30 March and which was reported in The Irish Times on 31 March?
The Deputy will know that we were talking——
A lot of jobs were promised in March. There were a few March hares going around.
The position is improving.
No it is not.
This is just one programme out of many. The international conference at which I spoke related to the entire co-operative movement and co-operative development association. This particular scheme directly assists groups to set up business in local communities and creates employment indirectly by providing grant aid for development, business start up and business advice services. It is a fairly small programme but it helps many communities to get a start.
Is the Minister satisfied that he has provided sufficient funding to create these jobs?
A range of grants is available to assist these groups. There is a once-off small development grant which helps towards the cost of feasibility studies, a grant of £17,500 towards an enterprise worker, a management grant of up to £14,000 and wage subsidies of between £2,500 and £3,750 for each worker for one year. It proves, in a limited way, extremely helpful to local communities.