Vol. 432 No. 3
107 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Enterprise and Employment the financial measures, if any, he intends to take to enable and encourage employers to expand their workforce; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I take it that the Deputy is referring to the provision of employment subsidies to encourage employers to recruit additional staff.
FÁS administers the employment incentive scheme which is aimed at encouraging the recruitment of long term unemployed persons, early school leavers and other disadvantaged persons. Subject to the conditions of the scheme, a subsidy of £60 and £45 per week depending on the category of employee required is paid for 39 weeks.
I have already indicated to the House that the commitment in the Programme for a Partnership Government for an expanded wage subsidy scheme will be considered in the context of the funding to be made available to FÁS under the Community Support Framework for 1994-1999.
