Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 24 Jun 1992

Vol. 421 No. 5

Written Answers. - Schemes for the Disabled.

Pádraic McCormack

Question:

39 Mr. McCormack asked the Minister for Health if he will outline the extent to which schemes for persons with a disability are being affected by the stricter interpretation of the terms of ESF moneys; and if he will give details of the plans he has to deal with the problem.

Minister for Health (Dr. O'Connell)

The Regulations governing the European Social Fund provide financial assistance only to vocational training programmes which are aimed at training persons for employment in the open labour market. People with disabilities can only benefit to the extent that they are capable of being trained for open employment. The Fund does not aid sheltered work programmes or the training of people with disabilities for sheltered employment.

ESF funded programmes are now subject to much stricter monitoring by the EC Commission to ensure that they meet the required standards, i.e. that they are training people for open employment and that the trainees on these programmes are capable of being trained for open employment. If the overall funding from this source is to be protected, it is vital that all elements of the programme comply fully with ESF Regulations.

Where people or programmes are not considered eligible for ESF assistance these are funded through the allocations received from my Department. In this regard additional funding of £6 million is being provided in the current for services for people with a mental handicap which will enable services such as day care, respite care etc. which are not eligible for ESF funding to be developed.

In addition my Department will be pressing in the context of the post 1993 situation for a broadening of the scope of eligible activities under the ESF to include training for sheltered or supported employment.