Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 23 Mar 1993

Vol. 428 No. 1

Written Answers. - Social Employment Scheme.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

226 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Enterprise and Employment if he has received correspondence from an organisation (details supplied) in County Kildare relating to a request for approval in respect of a social employment scheme the purpose of which is to cater for the disabled and/or the handicapped; if he will intercede with a view to ensuring that the necessary facilities are made available to the centre; if he expects to be able to do so in the near future; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Liz McManus

Question:

230 Ms McManus asked the Minister for Enterprise and Employment if he will ensure that the social employment scheme is altered to reduce the waiting time for people to avail of the scheme because of the problem that it is causing.

Minister for Enterprise and Employment (Mr. Quinn)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 226 and 230 together.

As I have recently indicated to the House, 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 and the slowing down of recruitment will be inevitable as FÁS must manage the scheme within the resources provided.

The processing of individual projects is a day-to-day matter for FÁS.

Liam Fitzgerald

Question:

227 Mr. L. Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Enterprise and Employment the reason two persons (details supplied) in Dublin who are on social employment scheme programmes in one of the 12 partnership areas, did not receive Christmas bonuses and retain their secondary social welfare entitlements although another participant at the same centre who is also residing outside the catchment area of CEDP did.

Minister for Enterprise and Employment (Mr. Quinn)

The conditions for the Community Employment Development Programme (CEDP) which operates solely in the 12Programme for Economic and Social Progress pilot areas specify that participants from the Programme for Economic and Social Progress areas retain their secondary benefits including Christmas bonus but that participants from outside the Programme for Economic and Social Progress areas do not retain their secondary benefits.

The payment of a Christmas bonus and some other secondary benefits to a person from outside theProgramme for Economic and Social Progress area is a matter for the Department of Social Welfare while health boards and local authorities are responsible for medical cards and differential rent.