Vol. 427 No. 8
146 Mr. E. Kenny asked the Minister for Enterprise and Employment the reason persons on social employment schemes do not qualify for the national fuel allowance; and if he will have arrangements made to amend the scheme to cater for these persons; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Participants on the social employment scheme are paid a basic allowance of £75 per week compared with £57.20 per week payable to persons in receipt of unemployment assistance. The differential is intended, among other things, to compensate participants for the loss of secondary benefits such as the fuel allowance.
A number of special measures were introduced on a pilot basis in the 12 areas designated under the Programme for Economic and Social Progress area based strategy to combat long term unemployment. One of the measures is the Community Employment Development Programme which operates on the same basis as the social employment scheme but participants retain their secondary benefits and a training module is provided for participants where feasible.
The operation of these special measures will be evaluated in due course to assess their effectiveness in assisting the long term unemployed generally.
147 Mr. Dukes asked the Minister for Enterprise and Employment if his attention has been drawn to the fact that organisers of social employment schemes around the country have been asked to terminate their programmes; and the great hardship and pressure which this decision has put participants under; his views on whether this decision is jeopardising the future of many different community projects around the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
An Exchequer allocation of £83.811 million has been made available for the social employment scheme in 1993. This will allow for an average participation level of 13,500 compared with 12,000 in 1992. However, as there were in excess of 15,000 people on the scheme at the beginning of 1993, some disruption of projects will be inevitable as FÁS must manage the scheme within the resources provided.
148 Mr. E. Kenny asked the Minister for Enterprise and Employment the number of persons employed on social employment schemes in County Mayo each year since their introduction; the number of persons who obtained extensions beyond the 52 weeks maximum provided for in social employment schemes; the proposals, if any, he has for further schemes in 1993; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The number of persons who participated in the social employment scheme each year since the scheme commenced was as follows: 1985, 5,500; 1986, 6,100; 1987, 8,500; 1988, 13,623; 1989, 11,226; 1990, 12,279; 1991, 16,276; 1992, 17,001.
The numbers participating in County Mayo is a day to day matter for FÁS. In 1992, 97 participants on the social employment scheme were granted extensions beyond the normal 52 weeks participation period.
