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Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 19 Nov 1991

Vol. 413 No. 1

Written Answers. - State Subventions.

Bernard J. Durkan

Bernard J. Durkan

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

34 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Labour if he will outline the total number and identity of State or semi-State bodies currently under the aegis of his Department and in receipt of an annual State subvention either directly from the Exchequer or from the EC Structural Funds; if he will further outline (1) the number and value of schemes entered into on foot of such funding and (2) the number of permanent positions created arising from such funding in each of the past four years; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Michael O'Kennedy

Minister for Labour (Mr. O'Kennedy)

There are five state sponsored bodies under the aegis of my Department as follows: Foras Áiseanna Saothair (FÁS); CERT; National Authority for Occupational Safety and Health; Labour Relations Commission; Employment Equality Agency.

I presume that the Deputy's question regarding schemes refers to schemes operated by FÁS. There are four such schemes operated by FAS, namely the social employment scheme, the employment incentive scheme, Teamwork and the enterprise scheme. Total expenditure by FÁS on these schemes amounted to £62.677 million in 1988, £56.543 million in 1989, £77.041 million in 1990 and the projected expenditure for 1991 is £83.7 million.

The social employment scheme and Teamwork are work schemes designed to give unemployed persons opportunities for work on a temporary basis. No permanent posts arise from these schemes.
In the case of the employment incentive scheme, employers recruit unemployed persons and are paid employment subsidies at the end of a 39 week employment period in respect of such employment. FÁS have no statistical information available on the number of permanent positions created as a result of participation in this scheme. However, the number of persons recruited under the scheme for the four years is 3,269 in 1988, 3,461 in 1989, 2,440 in 1990 and the projected recruitment level in 1991 is 2,000.
The enterprise scheme provides unemployed people with the opportunity to set up their own enterprises. The number of persons so assisted during the period in question is 2,467 in 1988; 2,523 in 1989; 2,534 in 1990 and the projected number for 1991 is 2,500. A report on the scheme published by the ESRI in 1988 showed that 60 per cent of businesses set up under the scheme were still in operation 24 months after the end of participation in the scheme.
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