Richard Bruton
Question:53 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Enterprise and Employment the position regarding the employment of social employment scheme workers in schools for the academic year starting September 1993.
Written Answers - Social Employment Scheme.
The social employment scheme is the principal manpower intervention aimed at providing opportunities for persons who are long term unemployed. Schools have sponsored projects under the scheme relating to the provision of services such as caretaking, secretarial and other ancilliary services. All projects under the scheme must be approved by a national monitoring committee.
I am aware that the ICTU, which is represented on the monitoring committee, has indicated that it will oppose the approval of any further school based projects pending a satisfactory resolution of difficulties regarding the filling of permanent caretaker and secretary posts in schools.
I understand that the relevant union is pursuing the matter with the Minister for Education and I hope that the difficulties can be resolved to the satisfaction of all concerned so as to ensure the continued availability of opportunities in schools under the SES for persons who are long term unemployed.
The filling of individual places on the SES is of course a day to day matter for FÁS and is subject to the availability of funds.
Bernard J. Durkan
Question:54 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Enterprise and Employment if he has examined the feasibility of allowing the long term unemployed to undertake employment with statutory bodies such as health boards, local authorities and other such bodies on foot of their unemployment assistance payments plus a sum of approximately £50 per week; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The Deputy will appreciate that the recruitment procedures of health boards, local authorities and other such bodies is a matter for the respective Ministers in consultation with the Minister for Finance.
In so far as my area of responsibility is concerned, opportunities for the long term employed are made available by FÁS through the social employment scheme which is the principal manpower intervention aimed at persons who are long term unemployed. Projects under the scheme are sponsored by public sector bodies as well as by voluntary groups involving work which would not otherwise be undertaken. Participants are paid allowances which are higher than the rates to which they were entitled while on the Live Register. The current basic rate is £75 per week compared with £57.20 per week unemployment assistance. This means that a participant with one adult and three child dependants receives £145 per week compared with £129 while on the Live Register. I am pleased to say that the rates of payment will increase from July, when social welfare payments are set to increase.
I am satisfied that the existing arrangements for involving public sector bodies in the social employment scheme are satisfactory and I have no plans to alter them.