Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 27 Apr 1993

Vol. 429 No. 6

Written Answers. - Work Schemes.

Enda Kenny

Question:

112 Mr. E. Kenny asked the Minister for Enterprise and Employment the work schemes that are now available for people under 25 years of age; the reason this age group are not eligible to undertake work on social employment schemes in areas where no other labour is available; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Enterprise and Employment (Mr. Quinn)

Assistance is provided by FÁS for persons under 25 years of age through the enterprise scheme, Teamwork and the employment incentive scheme.

The enterprise scheme is designed specifically to encourage unemployed persons of any age on the Live Register for at least 13 weeks and in receipt of unemployment compensation payments to set up their own enterprises.

Teamwork is a community-managed scheme designed to help local voluntary organisations provide temporary community-based employment for the mutual benefit of persons aged between 17 and 25 years of age and their communities.

The employment incentive scheme offers prospective employers financial assistance for 39 weeks towards the recruitment of the long term unemployed, unemployed persons who are under 18 years of age, the disabled and other disadvantaged persons.

The social employment scheme is designed to provide needed opportunities for long term unemployed persons who are at least 25 years of age. I have no plans to extend the scheme generally to persons under 25 as this could only be done at the expense of those whom the scheme was designed to assist. However, the community employment development programme — CEDP — which operates in the 12 areas designated under the area-based strategy to combat long term unemployment allows participation by persons over 21 years of age. The operation of the strategy is being assessed to determine its effectiveness in assisting persons who are long term unemployed.